11.9.7 Function Precedence
Given the numerous different ways that Octave can define a function, it
is possible and even likely that multiple versions of a function, might be
defined within a particular scope.  The precedence of which function will be
used within a particular scope is given by
-  Subfunction
A subfunction with the required function name in the given scope.
-  Private function
A function defined within a private directory of the directory
which contains the current function.
-  Class constructor
A function that constructs a user class as defined in chapter
Object Oriented Programming.
-  Class method
An overloaded function of a class as in chapter
Object Oriented Programming.
-  Command-line Function
A function that has been defined on the command-line.
-  Autoload function
A function that is marked as autoloaded with See autoload.
-  A Function on the Path
A function that can be found on the users load-path.  There can also be
Oct-file, mex-file or m-file versions of this function and the precedence
between these versions are in that order.
-  Built-in function
A function that is a part of core Octave such as numel,size,
etc.