overstretch

Etymology

From Middle English overstrecchen, corresponding to over- + stretch. Compare Dutch overstrekken (“to overstretch”), German überstrecken (“to overstretch”).

noun

  1. The act of stretching something too far or beyond available resources.

verb

  1. To stretch too far.“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.”
  2. To stretch over something.