† aˈreach, v. Obs.
For forms see reach v.
[OE. arǽcan, f. a- prefix 1 + rǽcan to reach; cogn. with OHG. arreichôn, mod.G. erreichen. Cf. arecche, with which this vb. was occas. confused.]
1. trans. To reach, get at; esp. to get at with a weapon, to strike.
| 1014 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) Sloh eall þet man cynn þæt man arǽcan mihte. c 1230 Ancr. R. 166 Þe halewen makeden of al þe worlde ase ane stol..uorto arechen þe heouene. a 1330 Sir Otuel 1312 Otuwel, for wraþþe, a non Areiȝte him on þe cheke bon. 1393 Gower Conf. II. 140 The flood in such condicion Avaleth, that his drinke arecche He may nought. c 1460 Lybeaus Disc. 1129 For wham Lybeaus arafte, After hys ferste drawghte He slep for evermare. 1475 Caxton Jason 30 b, For whom he arecheth shall neuer after see fayr daye. 1513 Douglas æneis ii. x. (ix) 42 With grundin lance..Almaist he haid him tuichit and arrekit. |
2. fig. To get into possession of, obtain.
| 1393 Gower Conf. I. 150 For ofte shall a woman have Thing, whiche a man may nought areche. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 34 Till his ambitious sonnes vnto them twaine Arraught the rule. |
3. trans. To reach (a thing to a person); to hand, deliver.
| c 1000 ælfric Gram. xxviii. §5 Arǽce me ða bóc. 1205 Lay. 10539 He..wapnen him aræhte [1250 arahte]. a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 812 To Daris..Twenti pund he araȝte. 1388 Wyclif John xiii. 26 To whom Y schal areche a sop of breed. 1530 Palsgr. 435/2, I areche a thing to one touchyng or handlyng of it, Jattayns. |
4. intr. To reach, stretch, extend (to).
| c 1225 St. Marherete (1866) 12 As þah ha sehe..þe deore rode areachen to þe heouene. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xlix. 13 Zabulon..arechynge [1388 schal stretche] vnto Sidon. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. xvi. (1495) 324 Noo thynge..growyth but the sonne beme aretche therto. 1506 Sir R. Guylforde Pylgr. 55 They do areche ferre in lengthe. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. x. 44 And hedis semand to the heuin areik. |
5. Hence in various fig. senses: To reach or attain in thought, imagine; to be sufficient or able.
| c 1220 Ureisun in Cott. Hom. 193 Ne mei non heorte..arechen..Hu muchel god ðu ȝeirkest wið-inne paradise. c 1230 Ancr. R. 166 Hwo se wule biȝiten hire & areachen þerto [i.e. to heaven]. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xvii, Þe tonge myȝte not areche to speke. 1399 Rich. Redeles iv. 12 Ne alle the prophete of þe lond..Myȝte not areche..To paie þe pore peple. 1541 State Papers Hen. VIII, I. 671 As farre as our poure wyttes can arreche. |