Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
overstretch. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
overstretch, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
overstretch in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
overstretch you have here. The definition of the word
overstretch will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
overstretch, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English overstrecchen, corresponding to over- + stretch. Compare Dutch overstrekken (“to overstretch”), German überstrecken (“to overstretch”).
Pronunciation
Verb
overstretch (third-person singular simple present overstretches, present participle overstretching, simple past and past participle overstretched)
- To stretch too far.
1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: , London: for Henry Bell, , published 1622, →OCLC, (please specify the page):The idle triumphes, maskes, lasciuious showes
And prodigall gifts bestowed on Gaueston,
Haue drawne thy treasure drie, and made thee weake,
The murmuring commons ouerstretched hath.
- 1640, Charles I of England, Speech given to the Lords and Commons, at the Benquetting-House in White-Hall, 25 January, 1640, in The Works of King Charles the Martyr, London: Ric Chiswell, p. 169,
- If some of have overstretched their power, and incroached too much upon the Temporalty, if it be so, I shall not be unwilling these things should be redressed and reformed
1653, Nicholas Culpeper, Pharmacopœia Londinensis, or, The London Dispensatory, London: Peter Cole, page 50:[…] outwardly in Oyls or Oyntments, it mightily helps such members as are out of joynt or overstretched.
- 1783, Hugh Blair, Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, Dublin: Whitestone et al., Volume 1, Lecture 16, p. 380,
- How far a Hyperbole, supposing it properly introduced, may be safely carried without overstretching it; what is the proper measure and boundary of this figure, cannot, as far as I know, be ascertained by any precise rule.
- To stretch over something.
Derived terms
Noun
overstretch (plural overstretches)
- The act of stretching something too far or beyond available resources.