*retch*

a. Stretched beyond ordinary limits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the straight segment of a racetrack leading to the finish line. [ wns=1 ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Hence: [ fig. ] The last or concluding part of any extended activity that has a definite conclusion; the final phase of any activity; as, the election was neck-and-neck in the homestretch. [ PJC ]

v. t. To stretch out. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Retched p. pr. & vb. n. Retching. ] [ AS. hræcan to clear the throat, hawk, fr. hraca throat; akin to G. rachen, and perhaps to E. rack neck. ] To make an effort to vomit; to strain, as in vomiting. [ Written also reach. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Beloved Julia, hear me still beseeching!
(Here he grew inarticulate with retching.) Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ See Reck. ] To care for; to heed; to reck. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Careless; reckless. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

--- Retch"less*ly, adv. -- Retch"less*ness, n. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Stretched p. pr. & vb. n. Stretching. ] [ OE. strecchen, AS. streccan; akin to D. strekken, G. strecken, OHG. strecchen, Sw. sträcka, Dan. straekke; cf. AS. straeck, strec, strong, violent, G. strack straight; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to E. strong. Cf. Straight. ] 1. To reach out; to extend; to put forth. [ 1913 Webster ]

And stretch forth his neck long and small. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

I in conquest stretched mine arm. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve. Doddridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit. [ 1913 Webster ]

They take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be extended; to be drawn out in length or in breadth, or both; to spread; to reach; as, the iron road stretches across the continent; the lake stretches over fifty square miles. [ 1913 Webster ]

As far as stretcheth any ground. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To extend or spread one's self, or one's limbs; as, the lazy man yawns and stretches. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be extended, or to bear extension, without breaking, as elastic or ductile substances. [ 1913 Webster ]

The inner membrane . . . because it would stretch and yield, remained umbroken. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To strain the truth; to exaggerate; as, a man apt to stretch in his report of facts. [ Obs. or Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Naut.) To sail by the wind under press of canvas; as, the ship stretched to the eastward. Ham. Nav. Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stretch out, an order to rowers to extend themselves forward in dipping the oar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Act of stretching, or state of being stretched; reach; effort; struggle; strain; as, a stretch of the limbs; a stretch of the imagination. [ 1913 Webster ]

By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those put a lawful authority upon the stretch, to the abuse of yower, under the color of prerogative. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A continuous line or surface; a continuous space of time; as, grassy stretches of land. [ 1913 Webster ]

A great stretch of cultivated country. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

But all of them left me a week at a stretch. E. Eggleston. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The extent to which anything may be stretched. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quotations, in their utmost stretch, can signify no more than that Luther lay under severe agonies of mind. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is the utmost stretch that nature can. Granville. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) The reach or extent of a vessel's progress on one tack; a tack or board. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Course; direction; as, the stretch of seams of coal. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be on the stretch, to be obliged to use one's utmost powers. --
Home stretch. See under Home, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, stretches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Masonry) A brick or stone laid with its longer dimension in the line of direction of the wall. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) A piece of timber used in building. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) (a) A narrow crosspiece of the bottom of a boat against which a rower braces his feet. (b) A crosspiece placed between the sides of a boat to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A litter, or frame, for carrying disabled, wounded, or dead persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. An overstretching of the truth; a lie. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

7. One of the rods in an umbrella, attached at one end to one of the ribs, and at the other to the tube sliding upon the handle. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. An instrument for stretching boots or gloves. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. The frame upon which canvas is stretched for a painting. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Stretch, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stretching course (Masonry), a course or series of stretchers. See Stretcher, 2. Britton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. wrecche, AS. wrecca, wræcca, an exile, a wretch, fr. wrecan to drive out, punish; properly, an exile, one driven out, akin to AS. wræc an exile, OS. wrekkio a stranger, OHG. reccheo an exile. See Wreak, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. “The wretch that lies in woe.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son,
Wretch even then, life's journey just begun? Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Wretch is sometimes used by way of slight or ironical pity or contempt, and sometimes to express tenderness; as we say, poor thing. “Poor wretch was never frighted so.” Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Very miserable; sunk in, or accompanied by, deep affliction or distress, as from want, anxiety, or grief; calamitous; woeful; very afflicting. “To what wretched state reserved!” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

O cruel! Death! to those you are more kind
Than to the wretched mortals left behind. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

2. Worthless; paltry; very poor or mean; miserable; as, a wretched poem; a wretched cabin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hatefully contemptible; despicable; wicked. [ Obs. ] “Wretched ungratefulness.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nero reigned after this Claudius, of all men wretchedest, ready to all manner [ of ] vices. Capgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a wretched manner; miserably; despicable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality or state of being wretched; utter misery. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A wretched object; anything despicably. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Eat worms and such wretchedness. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Wretched. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]