▪ I. oveˈrreaching, vbl. n.
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of overreach v. in its various senses.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §113 Atteynt is a sorance, that commeth of an ouer rechynge. 1573 Tusser Husb. Ep. to W. Paget ii. 11 At first for over reaching, And lack of taking hid. 1607 Markham Caval. ii. (1617) 83 Over-reaching is a fault incident to young horses, weake horses and euill trotting horses. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 321 Quarrels, thefts, over-reachings, amours, and partialities among them. 1802 [see dicker v.]. 1933 H. Belloc William the Conqueror 55 At that moment appeared the go-between who settled the whole affair, earning thereby the permanent gratitude and protection of Godwin and his sons. But it was an overreaching. They had better have kept away from such an ally! 1971 New York Law Jrnl. 23 Nov. 18/5 The 1955 amendment..was adopted..to protect such tenants from overreaching by landlords who authorized commercial and business leases upon tenants. 1977 A. Wilson Strange Ride R. Kipling iv. 202 His apprehensions of disaster brought on by overreaching and vainglory. |
| attrib. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Over-reaching device,..an attachment to the leg or foot of a horse to prevent the catching of the toe of the hind foot upon the heel of the fore foot. |
▪ II. overˈreaching, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That overreaches; reaching or extending over; cheating; † exaggerating (obs.).
| 1579 Fulke Heskins's Parl. 340 He must note an hyperbole or ouerreaching speach in this sentence. 1603 Sir R. Wilbraham Jrnl. (1902) 59 By reason of her great reading and over⁓reaching experience. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia ix. i, The character of Briggs,..rapacious, and over-reaching. 1890 L. D'Oyle Notches 159 Not a breath..swayed the over⁓reaching pines upon the silent cliffs. |
So overˈreachingly adv., overˈreachingness.
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xxxv. 9 Although hee speake overreachingly. 1611 Cotgr., Cauteleusement,..cunningly,..craftily, deceitfully, ouerreachingly. |