overreach

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To reach above or beyond, especially to an excessive degree.

   • [...] I cannot forget what the poet Martial saith; "O quantum est subitis casibus ingenium!" signifying, that accident is many times more subtle than foresight, and overreacheth expectation; [...]
   • Writhing under his deficiency of means, he [William Hazlitt] struggled to supersede practice, overreach time, and bound at once to the conclusion.
2. 2

   To do something beyond an appropriate limit, or beyond one's ability

   To do something beyond an appropriate limit, or beyond one's ability; to overextend.

   • Professionals must remind themselves not to overreach the extent of their data and not to substitute values for scientifically supported facts, and must know when to inform fact-finders about the extent of the limits to knowledge.
3. 3

   Of a horse

   Of a horse: to strike the heel of a forefoot with the toe of a hindfoot.

   • Attinto, [...] Alſo when a horſe is tainted or hurt, or ouerreacheth one foote with another, and withal doth hurt a ſinew.
   • Defective or bad form will predispose a horse to overreach. Bad shoeing will also be liable to cause the hind-foot to catch the forward one.
4. ›+ 4 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To deceive, to swindle.

      • Say, thou that by thy cunning overreachest thy brother in buying, selling, or bargaining, or deceivest the trust reposed in thee by thy friend, couldst thou brook to be in like sort cheated thyself?
      • Don't you see that, by this step, I overreach him? I shall be entitled to the girl's fortune without settling a ducat on her!
      • Thou ſweareſt in his hearing; thou overreacheſt before his eyes; thou makeſt a mock of religion, and encourageſt him to do it.
   2. 5

      To sail on one tack farther than is necessary.

   3. 6

      To get the better of, especially by artifice or cunning

      To get the better of, especially by artifice or cunning; to outwit.

      • Wee'll ouer-reach the grey-beard Gremio, / The narrow prying father Minola, / The quaint Muſician, amorous Litio, / All for my Maſters ſake Lucentio.
   4. 7

      An act of extending or reaching over, especially if too far or too much

      An act of extending or reaching over, especially if too far or too much; overextension.

      • [T]hat's something that I think everyone in the White House understood was danger. We thought it was necessary, But I'm sympathetic to folks who looked at it and said, this is looking like potential overreach.

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