to "overtake" a computer (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Laurence Horn]

At 6:22 PM -0400 8/26/09, David Bergdahl wrote:
>My 1st father-in-law (Bavarian, b. 1899) used "overtake" as the usual term
>for passing a car on the highway

Is this at all unusual?  I've used it all my life, as well in the
case of as a runner or swimmer or cyclist overtaking another in a
race.  And I'm not Bavarian.

LH

>; maybe the computer usage is ana analogous
>use of this sense.
>-db
>
>On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 4:23 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
>
>>  ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>  -----------------------
>>  Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>  Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
>>  Subject:      Re: to "overtake" a computer (UNCLASSIFIED)
>>
>>
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>  At 8/26/2009 03:07 PM, Mullins, Bill AMRDEC wrote:
>>  >Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
>>  >Caveats: NONE
>>  >
>>  >Or maybe she meant "take over".
>>
>>  Yes.  What I really assumed she meant, but substituted a mistake for,
>>  but I didn't say so explicitly.
>>
>>  Joel
>>
>>  > > -----Original Message-----
>>  > > From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On
>>  > > Behalf Of Joel S. Berson
>>  > > Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 1:53 PM
>>  > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>>  > > Subject: to "overtake" a computer
>>  > >
>>  > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>  >---------------
>>  > > --------
>>  > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>  > > Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
>>  > > Subject:      to "overtake" a computer
>>  > >
>>  >-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  > > --------
>>  > >
>>  > > In an article in today's Boston Globe about viruses that hide within
>>  > > downloaded images of celebrities, its writer says "Once downloaded,
>>  > > they overtake the computer, resulting in pop-up screens or even
>>  > > identity theft."
>>  > >
>>  > > She must be thinking of fast mobile computers.
>>  > >
>>  > > I don't think she really meant "overtake, v.", either
>>  > > 2.c. To become greater or more successful than; or
>>  > > 5.    To overpower the will, senses, or feelings of; to win over,
>>  > > captivate; to overwhelm with emotion.  [We all know computers don't
>>  > > have emotions to be captivated.]
>>  > >
>>  > > Perhaps she meant
>>  > > 8. Chiefly Sc. To take up or occupy the whole of (a space); to extend
>>  > > over, cover. Obs.; or
>>  > > 9.  To overcome the judgement of; to deceive, take in.  Obs.
>>  > >
>>  > > But as the lyrics to the theme song for "Monk" say, "But I don't think
>>  > > so."
>>  > >
>>  > > Joel
>>  > >
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