v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Overreached (Overraught obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Overreaching. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To reach above or beyond in any direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To deceive, or get the better of, by artifice or cunning; to outwit; to cheat. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To defeat one's own purpose by trying to do too much or by trying too hard or with excessive eagerness; -- used reflexively; as, the candidate overreached himself by trying to plant false rumors, which backfired/ [ PJC ]

v. i. 1. To reach too far; as: (a) To strike the toe of the hind foot against the heel or shoe of the forefoot; -- said of horses. (b) (Naut.) To sail on one tack farther than is necessary. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cheat by cunning or deception. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of striking the heel of the fore foot with the toe of the hind foot; -- said of horses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who overreaches; one who cheats; a cheat. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To read over, or peruse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Too ready. -- O"ver*read"*i*ly adv. -- O"ver*read"i*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To reckon too highly. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To smear with red. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To refine too much. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Excessive refinement. [ 1913 Webster ]