- Reaching
- Reach Reach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reached} (r[=e]cht)
({Raught}, the old preterit, is obsolete); p. pr. & vb. n.
{Reaching}.] [OE. rechen, AS. r[=ae]can, r[=ae]cean, to
extend, stretch out; akin to D. reiken, G. reichen, and
possibly to AS. r[=i]ce powerful, rich, E. rich. [root]115.]
1. To extend; to stretch; to thrust out; to put forth, as a
limb, a member, something held, or the like.
[1913 Webster]
Her tresses yellow, and long straughten, Unto her heeles down they raughten. --Rom. of R. [1913 Webster]
Reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side. --John xx. 27. [1913 Webster]
Fruit trees, over woody, reached too far Their pampered boughs. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. Hence, to deliver by stretching out a member, especially the hand; to give with the hand; to pass to another; to hand over; as, to reach one a book. [1913 Webster]
He reached me a full cup. --2 Esd. xiv. 39. [1913 Webster]
3. To attain or obtain by stretching forth the hand; to extend some part of the body, or something held by one, so as to touch, strike, grasp, or the like; as, to reach an object with the hand, or with a spear. [1913 Webster]
O patron power, . . . thy present aid afford, Than I may reach the beast. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
4. To strike, hit, or touch with a missile; as, to reach an object with an arrow, a bullet, or a shell. [1913 Webster]
5. Hence, to extend an action, effort, or influence to; to penetrate to; to pierce, or cut, as far as. [1913 Webster]
If these examples of grown men reach not the case of children, let them examine. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
6. To extend to; to stretch out as far as; to touch by virtue of extent; as, his land reaches the river. [1913 Webster]
Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
7. To arrive at; to come to; to get as far as. [1913 Webster]
Before this letter reaches your hands. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
8. To arrive at by effort of any kind; to attain to; to gain; to be advanced to. [1913 Webster]
The best account of the appearances of nature which human penetration can reach, comes short of its reality. --Cheyne. [1913 Webster]
9. To understand; to comprehend. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Do what, sir? I reach you not. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
10. To overreach; to deceive. [Obs.] --South. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
