- reach
- O.E. ręcan "to extend, hold forth," also "to succeed in touching," from W.Gmc. *raikjan "stretch out the hand" (cf. O.Fris. reka, M.Du. reiken), from P.Gmc. *raikijanau, perhaps from PIE base *reig- "to stretch out" (cf. Skt. rjyati "he stretches himself," riag "torture" (by racking); Gk. oregein "to reach, extend;" Lith. raizius "to stretch oneself;" O.Ir. rigim "I stretch"), related to base *reg- "to rule, to lead straight, to put right" (see regal). Shakespeare uses the now-obsolete past tense form raught (O.E. ręhte). Meaning "arrive at" is early 14c.; that of "succeed in influencing" is from 1660s. The noun is first recorded 1520s; earliest use is of stretches of water. Reach-me-down "ready-made" (of clothes) is recorded from 1862, from notion of being on the rack in a finished state.