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Cozen vs Overreach - What's the difference?

cozen | overreach | Related terms |

Cozen is a related term of overreach.


As verbs the difference between cozen and overreach

is that cozen is (archaic) to cheat; to defraud; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way while overreach is to reach above or beyond in any direction.

As a noun overreach is

the act of striking the heel of the fore foot with the toe of the hind foot; -- said of horses.

cozen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (archaic) To cheat; to defraud; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way.
  • * 1602 , , Act III, Scene 2,
    • What devil was't / That thus hath cozen'd you at hoodman-blind?
  • * , 1851, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor , Volume 1, page 895,
    • It is certain that children may be cozened into goodness, and sick men to health, and passengers in a storm into safety; and the reason of these is, — because not only the end is fair, and charitable, and just, but the means are such which do no injury to the persons which are to receive benefit;.
  • * 1866 , Spoils, By a Receiver'', Charles Chauncey Burr (editor), ''The Old Guard: A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Principles of 1776 and 1787 , Volume 4, page 497,
    • The man, too, who has been matrimonially cozened''''', "would all the world might be '''cozened'''," for he has been '''cozened''', and beaten too; but with him the cudgel is "hallowed;" he would "hang it o'er the altar;" perhaps for the reason given by the "Merry Wives of Windsor," because "it hath done meritorious service;" and no sooner is he, by a seemingly merciful disposition of Providence, released from the cudgeler, but he is in haste to be ' cozened and beaten again.
  • * 1914 , , The Gates of Doom , 2001, page 217,
    • But that you should have been cozened' with me, that my ' cozening should in part have been a natural sequel to your own, rather than an independent error of mine, is a helpful reflection to me in this dark hour.

    Usage notes

    Modern usage is generally to effect a dated style.

    Related terms

    * cozener * cozenage

    References

    * Webster's New School and Office Dictionary, copyright 1962 * "cozen" on Online Etymology Dictionary

    overreach

    English

    Noun

    (overreaches)
  • The act of striking the heel of the fore foot with the toe of the hind foot; -- said of horses.
  • The act of extending or reaching too far, overextension.
  • *2010 , Brian Montopoli, CBS News Obama: People Saw "Overreach" in My Actions :
    • But, you know, I'm sympathetic to folks who looked at it and said, 'This is looking like potential overreach .'"

    Verb

  • To reach above or beyond in any direction.
  • To deceive, or get the better of, by artifice or cunning; to outwit; to cheat.
  • * 1594 , , III. ii. 144:
    • We'll overreach the greybeard Gremio,
  • * 1599 , , V. i. 78:
    • This might be / the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'erreaches ; / one that would circumvent God, might it not?
  • To reach too far
  • (of horses) To strike the toe of the hind foot against the heel or shoe of the forefoot.
  • (nautical) To sail on one tack farther than is necessary.
    • (Shakespeare)