Overreach v. t. (past & past part. overreached, obs. overraught; pres. part. overreaching)
1.
To reach above or beyond in any direction.
2.
To deceive, or get the better of, by artifice or cunning; to outwit; to cheat.
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/
Overreach 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.
... struck clean out with his right downwards; his quick opponent saw the descending blow before it came, [445-481]and slid his body rapidly out of its way. Entellus hurled his strength into the air, and all his heavy mass, overreaching, fell heavily to the earth; as sometime on Erymanthus or mighty Ida a hollow pine falls torn out by the roots. Teucrians and men of Sicily rise eagerly; a cry goes up, and Acestes himself runs forward, and pityingly lifts his friend and birthmate ... — The Aeneid of Virgil • Virgil
... I cease being enraged with thee, for formerly thou wert neither foolish nor volatile; though now youth has subdued reason. Avoid a second time overreaching thy superiors; for not another man of the Greeks would have easily appeased me. But thou hast already suffered much, and accomplished many deeds, as well as thy good father and brother, for my sake: therefore will I be persuaded by thee, ... — The Iliad of Homer (1873) • Homer