Her tresses yellow, and long straughten, Unto her
heeles down they raughten. --Rom. of R.
Reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side.
--John xx. 27.
Fruit trees, over woody, reached too far Their
pampered boughs. --Milton.
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.
He reached me a full cap. --2 Esd. xiv.
39.
3. To attain or obtain by stretching forth the hand; too
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.
O patron power, . . . thy present aid afford, Than I
may reach the beast. --Dryden.
4. To strike, hit, or tough with a missile; as, to reach an
object with an arrow, a bullet, or a shell.
5. Hence, to extend an action, effort, or influence to; to
penetrate to; to pierce, or cut, as far as.
If these examples of grown men reach not the case of
children, let them examine. --Locke.
6. To extend to; to stretch out as far as; to touch by virtue
of extent; as, his hand reaches the river.
Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches
blame. --Milton.
7. To arrive at by effort of any kind; to attain to; to gain;
to be advanced to.
The best account of the appearances of nature which
human penetration can reach, comes short of its
reality. --Cheyne.
9. To understand; to comprehend. [Obs.]
Do what, sir? I reach you not. --Beau. & Fl.
10. To overreach; to deceive. [Obs.] --South.