Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “overtake” come from?

Overtake comes from Middle English overtaken, a verb formed from the prefix over- and the verb taken, ultimately tracing to Proto-Germanic roots meaning to seize or grasp.

overtake (English): To pass a more slowly moving object or entity; To...

Definitions

  1. To pass a more slowly moving object or entity; To...

Ancestry of “overtake”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishovertaken—
2Middle Englishovernimen—
3Old Englishoferniman—
4Old Englishōferriverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border
5Proto-West Germanicobarover, above
6Proto-Germanicuberover; over, above
7Proto-Indo-Europeanupérabove; over
8Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-—

Words derived from “overtake”

  • overtaken
  • overtaker
  • unovertaken
  • obertik
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →