Part 68

Reaching above our nature does no good.

Dryden.

3. To extend in dimension, time, amount, action, influence, etc., so as to touch, attain to, or be equal to, something.

And behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven.

Gen. xxviii. 12.

The new world reaches quite across the torrid zone.

Boyle.

4. (Naut.) To sail on the wind, as from one point of tacking to another, or with the wind nearly abeam.

To reach after or at, to make efforts to attain to or obtain.

He would be in the posture of the mind reaching after a positive idea of infinity.

Locke.

Reach, n. 1. The act of stretching or extending; extension; power of reaching or touching with the person, or a limb, or something held or thrown; as, the fruit is beyond my reach; to be within reach of cannon shot.

2. The power of stretching out or extending action, influence, or the like; power of attainment or management; extent of force or capacity.

Drawn by others who had deeper reaches than themselves to matters which they least intended.

Hayward.

Be sure yourself and your own reach to know.

Pope.

3. Extent; stretch; expanse; hence, application; influence; result; scope.

And on the left hand, hell, With long reach, interposed.

Milton.

I am to pray you not to strain my speech To grosser issues, nor to larger reach Than to suspicion.

Shak.

4. An extended portion of land or water; a stretch; a straight portion of a stream or river, as from one turn to another; a level stretch, as between locks in a canal; an arm of the sea extending up into the land. "The river's wooded reach." Tennyson.

The coast . . . is very full of creeks and reaches.

Holland.

5. An artifice to obtain an advantage.

The Duke of Parma had particular reaches and ends of his own underhand to cross the design.

Bacon.