v. Obs. For forms see REACH v. [OE. arǽcan, f. A- pref. 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.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 166. Þe halewen makeden of al þe worlde ase ane stol … uorto arechen þe heouene.
c. 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.
c. 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. 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.
a. 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.
