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Added 9 October 2026

reaching

/ˈɹiːt͡ʃɪŋ/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about reaching at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

present participle and gerund of reach

noun

The action of one who reaches; an attempt to grasp something by stretching.
Sailing on a reach, i.e. having the wind on either side and coming from an angle that is larger with respect to the bow than when sailing close-hauled.

Origin

From Middle English reching, rechyng, recchinge, rechand, from Old English *rǣċende and reċċende (“reaching”), from Proto-Germanic *raikijandz, present participle of *raikijaną (“to stretch, reach”) and Proto-Germanic *rakjandz, present participle of *rakjaną (“to stretch, straighten”). Equivalent to reach + -ing.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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