throughprep.adv.

Brit.

/θruː/, U.S.

/θru/

Forms:

α. (a) early Old English dorh, early Old English ðerih (Northumbrian), Old English ðærh (Northumbrian), Old English ðerh (Northumbrian), Old English ðorh, Old English ðurch, Old English þyrh (rare), Old English–early Middle English durh (rare), Old English–early Middle English ðurg, Old English–early Middle English ðurh, Old English (rare)–Middle English þorch, Old English–Middle English þorh, Old English (rare)–Middle English þurch, Old English–Middle English þurg, Old English–Middle English þurh, late Old English–Middle English þur, early Middle English durȝ, early Middle English ðhurg, early Middle English ðurȝ, early Middle English ðurge, early Middle English ðhurge, early Middle English ðvrg, early Middle English torch, early Middle English turh, early Middle English yor, early Middle English yure, early Middle English zurhc, early Middle English þyr (in compounds), Middle English dourȝh, Middle English durghe, Middle English ȝorgh, Middle English ȝour, Middle English ȝowr, Middle English ȝurch, Middle English ȝwrh, Middle English þarȝ, Middle English thogh (transmission error), Middle English þor, Middle English thorch, Middle English þore, Middle English thore, Middle English þorg, Middle English thorg, Middle English þorgh, Middle English thorgh, Middle English þorghe, Middle English thorghe, Middle English þorghȝ, Middle English þorgȝ, Middle English þorguh, Middle English þorȝ, Middle English thorȝ, Middle English þorȝe, Middle English thorȝe, Middle English þorȝh, Middle English thorȝh, Middle English þorȝhȝ, Middle English thorȝoh, Middle English thorh, Middle English thorhe, Middle English þough (transmission error), Middle English þouȝ (transmission error), Middle English þouȝr (transmission error), Middle English þouh (transmission error), Middle English þour, Middle English thour, Middle English thoure, Middle English þourg, Middle English þourgȝ, Middle English þourgh, Middle English thourgh, Middle English thourghe, Middle English þourȝ, Middle English thourȝ, Middle English þourȝe, Middle English thourȝe, Middle English þourȝh, Middle English þourh, Middle English thourh, Middle English thourhe, Middle English thourr, Middle English þouurȝe, Middle English þowr, Middle English thowr, Middle English þowre, Middle English thowrgh, Middle English thowur, Middle English thur, Middle English thurc, Middle English thurch, Middle English thurg, Middle English thurge, Middle English thurgeh, Middle English þurgȝh, Middle English þurgh, Middle English þurghe, Middle English thurghe, Middle English þurghȝ, Middle English þurȝ, Middle English thurȝ, Middle English þhurȝ, Middle English þurȝe, Middle English thurȝe, Middle English þurȝg, Middle English þurȝgh, Middle English þurȝh, Middle English thurȝh, Middle English þurȝhg, Middle English thurȝhg, Middle English thurh, Middle English þurhc, Middle English þurhe, Middle English thurhe, Middle English þurhg, Middle English thurhge, Middle English thurhgh, Middle English thurke, Middle English þurrh ( Ormulum), Middle English þwrgh, Middle English thwrgh, Middle English torgh, Middle English torghe, Middle English yhorh, Middle English yhurgh, Middle English yorch, Middle English yorgh, Middle English yorghe, Middle English yorȝ, Middle English yorh, Middle English your, Middle English yourch, Middle English yourgh, Middle English yourghe, Middle English yourȝ, Middle English yourh, Middle English yowr, Middle English yurch, Middle English yurg, Middle English yurgh, Middle English yurghe, Middle English yurȝ, Middle English yurȝe, Middle English yurh, Middle English yurhg, Middle English–1500s thurgh; Scottish pre-1700 thourch; (b) late Old English–Middle English þurþ, Middle English þorght, Middle English thorght, Middle English thorgth, Middle English þorȝt, Middle English thorȝt, Middle English thorht, Middle English dorþ, Middle English þorþ, Middle English þorð, Middle English þorth, Middle English thorth, Middle English thorthe, Middle English þourght, Middle English thourght, Middle English þourȝt, Middle English þourt, Middle English þourþ, Middle English þourth, Middle English thourth, Middle English thuht (transmission error), Middle English þurd, Middle English thurd, Middle English þurght, Middle English thurght, Middle English thurghte, Middle English thurgth, Middle English þurȝt, Middle English thurȝt, Middle English þurȝth, Middle English thurȝth, Middle English þurht, Middle English þurs, Middle English þurt, Middle English thurt, Middle English þurð, Middle English þurth, Middle English þurthe, Middle English þhurth, Middle English thurth, Middle English thurthe, Middle English þurðh, Middle English turght, Middle English yhurght, Middle English yurght, Middle English yurht, Middle English yurth, Middle English yurthe. eOE Épinal Gloss. (1974) 40 Per seudoterum, þorh ludgaet... Per anticipationem, þorch [eOE Erfurt Gloss. dorh] obust.OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark xv. 10 Sciebat enim quod per inuidiam tradidissent eum summi sacerdotes : wiste forðon þætte þæt ðerh æfist [OE Rushw. Gospels ðærh æfeste] gesaldon uel sealla waldon hine hehsacerdas.OE Cynewulf Fates of Apostles 13 Sune on Romebyrig, frame, fyrdhwate, feorh ofgefon þurg Nerones nearwe searwe, Petrus ond Paulus.OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) i. ix. 42 Seo hergung wæs þurh Alaricum Gotena cyning geworden.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13254 Ȝa þurrh fulluhht. ȝa þurrh hannd gang. Att hadedd manness hande.?c1250 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Egerton) 282 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 177 Þe suneȝe þurð sihte.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 681 Leir..regnede þritti ȝer wel þor [?a1425 Digby þurgh, c1425 Harl. þoru, a1450 London Univ. þrough, c1450 Cambr. Univ. thorugh] alle þinge.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4219 Þourh ȝour help.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11070 All þe cunthre thurght.c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xxi. l. 399 So þat þorgh gyle was geten þorwe grace is now y-wonne.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 310 Þurȝ ryalmes so mony.c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 157 Eterne god that thurgh [v.rr. thour, þurgh, þourgh, þoruhe] thy purueiance Ledest the world.a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 392 Þourȝ Samarie and þe cuntre of Galile.a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 522 Thourth the emperours commandement.c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) l. 1021 Þe lady rod dorþ Cardeuyle.1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope v. viii. f. lxxxiiij The serpent..slewe the child thurgh his venym.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 32 He hadde resceyved deth thourgh me.?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. A.iiij To condith that people thurgh y^e deserte.

β. (a) Old English (rare)–Middle English þruh, Middle English drogh (in a late copy), Middle English drowgȝ, Middle English þouȝȝ (transmission error), Middle English thouh (transmission error), Middle English þrogh, Middle English þroghe, Middle English þroȝ, Middle English throȝ, Middle English þroȝe, Middle English throȝe, Middle English þroȝgh, Middle English throȝgh, Middle English throȝghe, Middle English þroȝh, Middle English throȝh, Middle English throȝhe, Middle English throighe, Middle English throug, Middle English þrough, Middle English þroughe, Middle English þrouȝ, Middle English throuȝ, Middle English þrouȝe, Middle English throuȝe, Middle English þrouȝh, Middle English þrouh, Middle English throuh, Middle English þrouhe, Middle English throuhe, Middle English throwg, Middle English þrowgh, Middle English þrowghe, Middle English þrowȝ, Middle English throwȝ, Middle English þrowȝe, Middle English throwȝe, Middle English þrowh, Middle English throwh, Middle English throwr, Middle English þrugh, Middle English þruȝ, Middle English thruȝ, Middle English þruȝe, Middle English thruȝe, Middle English thruȝhe, Middle English thrwgh, Middle English thrwghe (in a late copy), Middle English thrygh, Middle English trghug, Middle English trogh, Middle English trowgh, Middle English trowghe, Middle English trowh, Middle English trugh, Middle English trughe, Middle English yrogh, Middle English yrowȝ, Middle English yrugh, Middle English yruȝ, Middle English–1500s throghe, Middle English–1500s thrug, Middle English–1500s thrugh, Middle English–1500s thrughe, Middle English–1500s thruh, Middle English–1600s throgh, Middle English–1600s throughe, Middle English–1600s throwgh, Middle English–1500s throwghe, Middle English– 1500s trough, Middle English– through, 1500s throhe; English regional 1800s threugh (Yorkshire), 1900s throwgh (Yorkshire), 1900s t'rough (Norfolk); U.S. regional (chiefly south Midland and southern) 1800s–1900s though, 1900s frough (in African-American usage), 1900s th'ough; Scottish pre-1700 threwch, pre-1700 throche, pre-1700 throchge, pre-1700 throg, pre-1700 throgh, pre-1700 throghe, pre-1700 throiche, pre-1700 throuche, pre-1700 throug, pre-1700 throughe, pre-1700 throwch, pre-1700 throwche, pre-1700 throwghe, pre-1700 thruch, pre-1700 thruche, pre-1700 thrugh, pre-1700 thrwch, pre-1700 troch, pre-1700 trouch, pre-1700 truch, pre-1700 truche, pre-1700 1700s throwgh, pre-1700 1700s–1800s throuch, pre-1700 1700s– throch, pre-1700 1700s– through, 1800s th'rough, 1800s trough (Shetland); also Irish English 1800s draugh (Wexford), 1800s trugh (Wexford), 1900s– throch (northern); (b) Middle English þouȝt (transmission error), Middle English thout (transmission error), Middle English thrawth, Middle English throghet, Middle English throght, Middle English throghte, Middle English þroȝt, Middle English throȝt, Middle English þroȝth, Middle English þroth, Middle English throth, Middle English þrought, Middle English þroughte, Middle English throuȝht, Middle English þrouȝt, Middle English þrouȝte, Middle English þrouȝth, Middle English þrouht, Middle English throwght, Middle English throwghte, Middle English þrowþ, Middle English throwth, Middle English thrughte, Middle English thruth, Middle English thrwght, Middle English troght, Middle English trowght, Middle English trught, Middle English trughte, Middle English–1500s thrught, Middle English–1500s thruȝht, Middle English–1600s throught, 1500s throwthe; Scottish pre-1700 throcht, pre-1700 throicht, pre-1700 throucht, pre-1700 throught, pre-1700 throuthe, pre-1700 throwcht, pre-1700 throwght, pre-1700 thrucht, pre-1700 thrught, pre-1700 thruth, pre-1700 thrutht, pre-1700 thrwcht, pre-1700 trocht, pre-1700 troithe. OE Hymns (Vesp. D.xii) xxxv. 4 in H. Gneuss Hymnar u. Hymnen im englischen Mittelalter (1968) 303 Eius mortem sequuntur et vestigia per crucem : hys deað hy folgodon & fotswaþa þruh rode.?c1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 111 Bote þu, þruh þin milde mod, bringe me out of sunne.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 459 Mi wicked eyiȝen..lad myn hert þrouȝ loking þis langour to drye.c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 2526 He..hade pardon Throgh prayere and specialle grace.1487–8 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 141 On euery sonday throwȝe þe yer.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) viii. l. 709 Throcht falsheid and thar subtilite.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 137 Throuch thar aller hale assent.c1500 Sir Corneus in M. M. Furrow Ten 15th-cent. Comic Poems (1985) 283 For þis was thruȝht a chans. ▸ ?a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 125 Leif creuelte..Or throucht the warld quyte losit is ȝour name.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 18 The gret peril that myght be-fall hym..drogh the owt-comen folk þat was thus in-to the land I-com.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 26 Trogh al thynge.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 28 That thou ne hast y-dene troght some grete lette.c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 19^v Thrugh lemys of light.1545–7 in Archaeologia 34 41 Throwgh the weke.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 32 In wintir quhen thay ar throuch fatt.1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 193 An extreame cold winde passed throgh his sides.1668 T. Allin Jrnl. 26 Jan. (1940) (modernized text) II. 5 The pilot assuring us our passage through [MS throught], we got clear and came to anchor.1724 A. Ramsay Vision in Ever Green I. i Throch feidom, our freedom Is blotit with this skore.1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 47 And gars them cauldrife nod Throuch poortith's glen.1864 B. Preston Poems 14 Then smackt his brah as if he'd felt A ball go threugh his brain.1902 M. E. Mann Fields Dulditch 51 He had caught a ‘chronic cold’..‘t'rough slapin' wi' th' windy open’.2005 M. Rodger Borth'ick Waitter (SCOTS) It's ma ettle throch this airticle, tae spell the names o baith fock an places, is naur is A kan tae hou ma paurents..wur wont tae pronoonce thum.

γ. Chiefly south-western Middle English thowffe (transmission error), Middle English thorf, Middle English thorffe, Middle English trowffe, Middle English þowrfe, Middle English þurf, Middle English–1500s thurf; English regional (north midlands and northern) 1700s– thruff, 1800s threff, 1800s thrif, 1800s thrift, 1800s throf, 1800s throwf, 1800s thruf, 1800s thruft, 1800s thruof, 1900s throof, 1900s throoff, 1900s truff, 1900s– thriff. c1300 St. Michael (Harl.) in T. Wright Pop. Treat. Sci. (1841) 132 Thurf dai and thurf niȝt.c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) 149 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 223 Þurf oure louerdes grace.c1485 (?a1400) Child Bristow l. 520 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 321 Thurf youre good he is saue.a1800 S. Pegge Suppl. Grose's Provinc. Gloss. (1814) Thruff and thruff, i.e. through and through. Derb.1864 Ld. Tennyson Northern Farmer: Old Style xi, in Enoch Arden, etc. 133 I..runn'd plow thruff it an' all.1888 G. M. Fenn Dick o' the Fens 153 Go thruff yon reed-bed home.1904 J. H. Brown in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1905) VI. 117/2 [Nottinghamshire] I druv him thruff the ford.1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincs. Dial. Dict. 267/2 An mek sewer yer git yon bars thruff yon shottles proper.

δ. Middle English dorw, Middle English dorwe, Middle English dorwgh, Middle English durwe, Middle English ȝorw, Middle English thorew, Middle English thorewe, Middle English thorghw, Middle English thorghwe, Middle English thorȝw, Middle English thorȝwe, Middle English thorw, Middle English thorwe, Middle English thorwg, Middle English thorwgh, Middle English thorwȝ, Middle English thorwȝe, Middle English thorwh, Middle English thorwhe, Middle English thourw, Middle English thurgwe, Middle English thurw, Middle English thurwe, Middle English thwrw, Middle English torw, Middle English torwe, Middle English twrw, Middle English þerwe, Middle English þorgwe, Middle English þorw, Middle English þorwe, Middle English þorwg, Middle English þorwgȝ, Middle English þorwgh, Middle English þorwȝ, Middle English þorwȝe, Middle English þorwh, Middle English þorwhe, Middle English þourȝw, Middle English þourw, Middle English þourwe, Middle English þourwȝ, Middle English thourwȝ, Middle English þurw, Middle English þurwe, Middle English þurwȝ, Middle English thurwȝ, Middle English þurwh (in copy of Old English charter), Middle English yorw, Middle English yorwe, Middle English yorwȝ, Middle English yourw, Middle English yowrw, Middle English yurw, Middle English yurwh, Middle English zhorw, Middle English zorw, Middle English zowrw. c1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 83 Hise wundes sore and smerte stungen þureu and þurw þi herte.c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1926 Charlis, þat is of fraunce kyng..Hoteþ þe þorw alle þyng to leuen þyn errour.1389 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 53 To hem þat falle pouere þurwȝ auenture of godes sonde.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ix. l. 151 Þus þourw cursed caym cam care vppon erthe.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. l. 300 Þorw þe pas of altoun Pouerte myȝte passe with-oute peril of robbynge.c1450 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (BL Add. 36983) p. 1646 Þorwe [Vesp. thoru, Fairf. þorou, Trin. Cambr. þourȝe] þe toun.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 28 He bad ham well þorwe that thay sholden yn al manere senden after more of har kyn.

ε. Middle English thow (transmission error), Middle English thowe (transmission error), Middle English thrawe, Middle English threw, Middle English threwe, Middle English þro, Middle English throow, Middle English þrou, Middle English throue, Middle English þrow, Middle English throve, Middle English þrowe, Middle English thrue, Middle English thrvoo, Middle English thrw, Middle English thrwe, Middle English trow, Middle English trowe, Middle English yhrow, Middle English yrou, Middle English yrow, Middle English yru, Middle English–1500s throwe, Middle English–1700s throw, Middle English–1600s (1700s North American) (1900s– nonstandard) throu, Middle English– thro (now chiefly informal), Middle English– thru (now chiefly U.S.), 1500s– thro' (now chiefly informal), 1600s throoe, 1600s–1700s throu', 1600s– thru' (now chiefly U.S.); English regional (chiefly northern) 1800s threw, 1800s throo, 1800s throo', 1800s throu, 1800s trew (Norfolk), 1800s–1900s thro, 1800s–1900s throw, 1800s– thru; U.S. regional (chiefly south Midland and southern) 1800s thue, 1800s– fru (in African-American usage), 1800s– thew, 1800s– thoo, 1800s– true, 1900s t'ru, 1900s– th'ew, 1900s– thu, 1900s– tru; Scottish pre-1700 threu, pre-1700 threv, pre-1700 threw, pre-1700 throue, pre-1700 throv, pre-1700 throve, pre-1700 thru, pre-1700 thrw, pre-1700 trew, pre-1700 trhow, pre-1700 1700s– thro', pre-1700 1700s– throu, pre-1700 1700s– throw, pre-1700 1800s– thro, pre-1700 1800s– throwe, 1700s thrae, 1700s– throu', 1800s throuw (north-eastern), 1800s– throo, 1800s– troo (Shetland), 1800s– trou (Orkney and Shetland), 1800s– trow (Orkney and Shetland), 1800s– trowe (Shetland), 1900s trouw (Shetland), 1900s tru (Shetland); also Irish English (northern) 1800s– throo, 1900s– thoo. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11229 Þe sune beme Gas thru [Vesp. thoru] þe glas.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20909 In rome throu an þat hight neron..Naild on þe rod he [sc. Peter] was.c1480 (a1400) St. Matthew 52 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 191 Thrw sorcery & felone gyle.c1480 (a1400) St. Nicholas 806 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 504 Blyndyt threu gret cowatise.1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 185 Doune throu the ryce a ryuir ran.1533 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 396 Such merchunds..as cum throw Oxmantown.c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 77^v Þro mony long chaumbur.1674 D. Brevint Saul & Samuel 140 [He] may fall..thro a broken bridge.1681 Pref. in T. Hobbes Art of Rhetoric sig. A3^v Throu the working of Belief.1709 M. Prior Despairing Shepherd i Wand'ring thro' the lonely Rocks.a1758 A. Ramsay Bonny Tweedside in Tea-table Misc. (1871) I. 142 I'll awa' to bonny Tweed side, And see my deary come throw.1878 W. Whitman Daybks. & Notebks. (1978) I. 122 Sent piece ‘Three Young Men's Deaths’ $12 to Mr John Frazer, Tobacco Plant, Liverpool—thro Josiah Child.1879 Proc. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 6 The committee now present the following words as the beginning of such [a] list [of reformed spellings], and recommend them for immediate use:..Tho. Thru. Wisht.1904 R. Garnett Let. in A. Mizener Ford Madox Ford (1971) ix. 96 If Conrad..paid £3 a week thro Pinker it would be a very considerable help.1917 E. E. Cummings Lett. (1969) 40 I see the thing thru, alone.1934 Z. N. Hurston Jonah's Gourd Vine 233 Sho hope mah boy come thew aw-right.1977 Hot Car Oct. 11/1 Available for S types right thru to Mk 10s it retails for 26 notes.1994 L. Johnson in J. Robertson Tongue in yer Heid 165 Mony an oor I'm spent huntin trow da records.

See also thorough prep. and adv.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with (usually as both preposition and adverb) Old Frisian thruch , truch (West Frisian troch ), Old Dutch thuro , thurgh (Middle Dutch door , dōre , dur , doorch , Dutch door ), Old Saxon thurh , thuruh , thuru , thur (Middle Low German dörch , dȫr ), Old High German duruh , durah , durih , durh , dur (Middle High German durch , dur , dür , German durch , †dürch ), and (with different ablaut grade: e -grade) Old Frisian thriuch (North Frisian (Amrum) trüch , (Föhr) trüg ), Gothic þairh , and also Old High German derh (adjective) perforated < a suffixed form (cognate with Sanskrit tiraś-cā , Avestan tarasča both in sense ‘through, across’) of the Indo-European base of Sanskrit tiras , Avestan tarō , both in sense ‘through, across’, classical Latin trāns across, Early Irish tar across, and also Sanskrit tarati passes through, crosses, overcomes. Compare thorough prep. and adv.Stress. The fact that the word may be either stressed or unstressed has resulted in a complicated and divergent form history. The expected pattern is for low-stress forms to predominate in prepositional use (although prepositions can sometimes be emphatic and stressed) and for fully stressed forms to predominate in adverbial use (and also in the derived adjective and noun), but this is complicated by the recurrent tendency of low-stress forms to become restressed and (conversely) of fully stressed forms to be used in low-stress positions. Thus, for example, (restressed) through adv. has entirely supplanted (stressed) thorough adv., whereas (stressed) thorough prep., although always less common than through prep., nevertheless has a long history (and still survives as an archaic form). Old English syntax. In Old English the preposition is construed with the accusative. Form history. The usual form in Old English is þurh . Beside this is attested a (low-stress) form þorh with lowering of the stem vowel, and a (fully stressed) form þuruh with development of an epenthetic back glide between r and h (for the subsequent history of this form see thorough prep. and adv.). The rare form þyrh may perhaps show the reflex of a variant disyllabic form with i in the second syllable (compare Old High German durih and parallel forms with i-mutation in continental Germanic languages), if so probably originally a secondary analogical development. A reduced (low-stress) form þur is first attested in late Old English. The Northumbrian by-form ðerh (also ðærh , and (with epenthetic front glide) ðerih ) could show the reflex of the same ablaut variant (e -grade) seen in Gothic þairh , or could simply show a development in a position of low stress. The β. forms show metathesis of r (attested already in Old English), and the ε. forms subsequent loss of the final voiceless fricative. By the beginning of the 16th cent. the original α. forms had been superseded by metathesized forms, which supply the modern standard form through (already by the 16th cent. the predominant form). The form thro' (generally apprehended as an abbreviated form) was formerly common in all registers (especially from the 17th to the 19th centuries), but is now rare and chiefly informal. In the United States the form thru has long been a favourite of spelling reformers (compare quot. 1879 at ε. forms), but although it remains widely used, especially in signs and notices and in advertising and commercial contexts, it has not gained universal acceptance and is avoided in formal writing. The γ. forms show the development (in both metathesized and unmetathesized forms) of the final voiceless fricative /x/ to /f/ (see discussion at G n. and compare rough adj., enough adj., etc.); J. Wright Eng. Dial. Gram. (1905) 646–7 records regional pronunciations with final /f/ from the north midlands and north of England. Over 500 different spellings of the word (including forms at thorough prep. and adv.) are attested in Middle English, early modern English, and Older Scots. Much of the huge variety in Middle English and Older Scots stems from the fact that the word contains two sounds, the dental and velar fricatives /θ/ and /x/, that in addition to common spelling variation (i.e. þ , ð , th , etc. for the former, h , ch , gh , ȝ , etc. for the latter) are also subject to widespread literal substitution in different scribal writing systems (e.g. y for þ , cht and ght for ch and gh , etc.), with the output greatly confused by the existence of considerable overlap between the two substitution sets (e.g. ȝ , d , t , and th are each capable of representing either sound). The δ. forms present difficulties of analysis. They probably reflect a type with development of some degree lip-rounding. However, it is possible that in some instances the w could be intended to represent a vowel, in which case those instances would belong at thorough prep. and adv. Pronunciation. A wide range of pronunciations is recorded by 16th- and 17th-cent. orthoepists, including the modern standard pronunciation

/θruː/ (which results from the restressing (and lengthening) of the Middle English (low-stress) form þrŭ); some of these pronunciations, e.g. the diphthongal /θraʊ/, are continued in modern regional use. See further E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §§4, 175, 177.

Through has been used since the Middle English period with many verbs, as break, come, get, go, pass, run, etc.: see these verbs. In most of these the basic uses of through correspond to those given below, while (as with other phrasal and prepositional verbs) the further developments take a more idiomatic turn.

A. prep.

I. Expressing movement or direction.

a. From one end, side, or surface of (something) to another; (a) from one side of (an opening or gap) to the other; (b) from one end or boundary of (a place or area) all the way to the other; along the whole length of (a passage); (c) in at one side or surface of (a solid object) and out at another, esp. so as to pierce or penetrate.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > specific directions > [preposition] > through

throughOE

thoroughOE

throughoutOE

athwart1713

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [preposition] > through

throughOE

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) vii. 13 Gangað inn þurh [OE Lindisf. Gospels ðerh] þæt nearwe geat, forþon þe þæt geat is swyþe wid..þe to forspillednesse gelæt.

OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Vitell.) (1984) 1 (table of contents) Wið þæt men blod upp wealle þurh his muð.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 294 (MED) Þu leaddest israeles leode of egipte bute schip dru fot þurh þe reade sea.

a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Arun.) (1857) 150 Passe par my le mordaunt [glossed] thout [read throut] the bokel.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1242 (MED) Þurth scheld and scholder þe scharpe spere grint.

1446 in C. Innes Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis (1845) I. 245 A lonyng lyand þrow the mur betwix twa ald stane dykes.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xv. sig. Eij Fyres..sodaynly sente throughe the cloudes in grete tempeste and murmure.

?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. A.iiij To condith that people thurgh y^e deserte.

1557 Bible (Whittingham) John iv. 4 He must nedes go through [1526 Tyndale thorowe] Samaria.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 455 The Sergant..brought mee through certayne ascending passages, to a chamber.

1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xliv. 196 He cut clean through the jugularie veins.

1735 Lives Most Remarkable Criminals III. 73 Sneaking Goods out of Shops, snatching them through Windows.

1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho IV. xiv. 320 We went through a long passage, and down other steps cut in the solid rock.

1807 T. Young Course Lect. Nat. Philos. I. 780/1 (caption) The pump A forces the water through the pipe B into the barrel C.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxxii. 288 George..was lying..dead, with a bullet through his heart.

1867 J. K. Lord At Home in Wilderness vii. 125 Cut half-way through the tree.

1937 Life 12 Apr. 93/2 (advt.) Budapest..isn't one city, but two. The beautiful blue Danube flows right through it!

1986 New Yorker 10 Mar. 98/3 The Moncrief oil company drilled through nine thousand feet of granite.

2007 J. Clary Murder most Fab ix. 97 I stumbled in through the door.

b. With reference to the transmission of light, or the action of looking or seeing, from one side of an opening, gap, or transparent object to the other. Also in figurative contexts.See also to look through —— at look v. Phrasal verbs 2, to see through —— at see v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΚΠ

OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 6 Nov. (2013) 212 Ða sume dæge an ðara broðra locode in ðæt hus þurh an lytel ðyrel.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 20 (MED) Heo, þa, & monie ma biheolden þurh an eilþurl as ha bed hire beoden.

a1275 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 10 (MED) So gleam glidis þurt þe glas, of þi bodi born he was.

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 35 (MED) Þourh hyre side he shon ase sonne doþ þourh þe glas.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11229 Þe sune beme Gas thru [Vesp. thoru] þe glas.

c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 217 Thurgh a wyndow..He caste his eye vp on Emelya.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) in Centaurus (1968) 12 221 (MED) Þorgh waater may men se If þat it noght deep be.

1533 tr. Erasmus Enchiridion Militis Christiani xiii sig. I.iiij^v Magnifiest thou a pece of his carkas shynyng thrugh a glasse, & regardest not thou the hole mynde of Paule shynyng thrugh his lettres?

?1590 A. Munday tr. First Bk. Amadis of Gaule xiv. f. 64^v He..chaunced on a faire Fortresse, as he gathered by the lights he beheld through the glasse windowes.

1640 T. Nabbes Bride iii. ii. sig. F2 A pignie [read pigmie], that cannot be discern'd but through a multiplying glas.

1656 A. Cowley Misc. 28 in Poems There through Chinks and Key-holes peep.

1717 A. Pope Disc. Pastoral Poetry in Wks. 5 Piety to the Gods should shine thro' the Poem.

1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xvi. 159 These instances of cunning, which she thought impenetrable, yet which every body saw through.

1839 H. W. Longfellow Hyperion II. iv. i. 114 A mysterious light streams through the painted glass.

1853 C. Dickens Bleak House viii. 76 Mrs. Pardiggle..had been regarding him through her spectacles.

1939 Street & Smith's Western Story Mag. 23 Sept. 10/2 Take a squint at it through my old binoculars.

1967 M. Leyland & M. Leyland Where Dead Men Lie 133 The moon shone through the chinks in the Waddy wood walls.

2011 A. Taylor In Safe Hands 67 Through the window, she could see Mandy.

c. With reference to the piercing effect of a loud, shrill, or harsh sound on the ears or nerves, or to the penetrating effect of extreme cold. Cf. pierce v. 2b.

ΚΠ

c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1871) 500 The goos the cokkow & the doke also So cryede kek kek, kokkow, quek quek hye That thourw [c1450 Digby through, a1500 St. John's Oxf. þurh, a1500 Cambr. Ff.1.6 thourght] myne erys the noyse wente tho.

1578 T. Churchyard Disc. Queenes Entertainem. sig. H.ij As lately loe you heard, by Verses penned well, Which soundes so shrilly through my eares, and tings so like a Bell.

1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 193 An extreame cold winde passed throgh his sides.

1669 W. Killigrew Imperial Trag. v. 44 What shrill voice is that, which strikes through my ears?

1790 J. Woodforde Diary 1 Apr. (1927) III. 180 It was very cold indeed all the Day with a strong Easterly Wind. It cut through a Person.

1800 J. Cottle Alfred v. 108 A piteous cry Pierced through my ears.

1823 Coll. Hist. & Misc. Nov. 326 A very loud sharp whistle..suddenly passed through his head like the report of a pistol.

1919 M. Patterson Woman's Man xlviii. 329 From behind the closed door, a sound pierced through me, a grinding noise like that a truck makes rolling on a track.

1985 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (1999) I. 4th Ser. Episode 3. 219 Del. Nice northerly wind howling in from the Urals in there? Albert. Cuts right through you Del!

2007 P. Verhaeghen Omega Minor 399 Each ferocious squeak of the bedsprings goes right through my head.

d. Into, processed by, and out of (a machine, piece of equipment, etc.). Also in figurative contexts.

ΚΠ

1526 Grete Herball ccccxxxv. sig. Ziij/1 Take veray small powdre therof and passe it through a sarcenet.

1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 395 At length strain it oft through a Filter bag.

1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor Blomarie, the first forge, through which the iron passeth, after it is once melted out of the myne.

1641 in R. W. Cochran-Patrick Rec. Coinage Scotl. (1876) I. Introd. 31 They would putt 1000 stane [of copper] throw the yrons in the yeire.

1780 W. Tooke tr. J. G. Georgi Russia II. 191 What remains [of the flour] is again passed through the mill, till nothing is left but the bran.

1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1737 I. 49 [Johnson:] Knowledge of the world, fresh from life, not strained through books.

1807 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 490 The raw grain of barley, after being put through the fanners, was lighter.

1845 H. A. Miles Lowell 95 The wool is then dyed; after which it passes through the picker.

1936 U.S. Patent 2,045,435 1/1 Subsequent re-runs of the records through the tabulating machines.

1986 J. McPhee Rising from Plains 86 I put sheets through the wringer.

2013 Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 1 May e1/3 They [sc. marks or flaws] are transferred to each piece of paper that is run through the printer.

e. With reference to a faint or distant sound penetrating, and thus audible in spite of, a louder or nearer sound. Cf. above prep. 12.

ΚΠ

?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxii. 307 I heare through all this crieMy mothers voyce shrieke.

1730 J. Thomson Hymn on Seasons in Seasons 236 The long-resounding voice, oft-breaking clear, At solemn pauses, thro' the swelling base.

1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 67 Languor there was in it, and tremulous shake,..And through it moan'd a ghostly under-song.

1851 Ld. Tennyson Princess (ed. 4) iv. 104 Thy voice is heard thro' rolling drums.

1959 J. Lineberger Sometime Thing 21 (stage direct.) The last thing we hear is a delicate laugh, filtering insidiously through the roar of the engines.

2004 S. Smith tr. I. Némirovsky Suite Française (2006) i. 54 Through the din of the cars..you could barely hear its [sc. a fire siren's] faint, ridiculous sound.

f. With reference to figurative barriers or obstructions.In early use chiefly with break (cf. to break through at break v. Phrasal verbs).

ΚΠ

1657 J. Owen Of Schisme i. 18 That prudence, which is..not able to breake through their unspeakable prejudices and interests.

1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. xi. 171 The circumstances of my unfortunate son broke through all efforts to dissemble.

1864 G. Smith Let. to Whig Member Southern Independence Assoc. 65 To break through prejudice, and raise the social condition of the long degraded race.

1933 D. Thomas Let. 25 Dec. (1987) 81 Before one gets to a truth in one's own mind one has to cut through so many crusts of self-hypocrisy and doubt.

1967 R. Fox Kinship & Marriage 50 Anyone trying to understand the subject has to fight his way through half a dozen conflicting taxonomies.

2016 Church Times 15 Jan. 34/3 Bishop Warner's determination to cut through years of official obfuscation is absolutely right.

2. With plural or collective noun as complement: between or among (the individual people or things in a group or mass), esp. so as to reach the other side of an obstruction they collectively create.

ΚΠ

OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) iv. 30 Hig..læddon hine ofer ðæs muntes cnæpp.., þæt hi hyne nyðer bescufon. Þa ferde he þurh hyra midlen.

OE Ælfric Homily: De Populo Israhel (Hatton 115) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 644 Ða eode seo mægð be Moyses hæse þurh ealne þone here æfre ofsleande.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke iv. 30 Jhesus passynge wente thorw the myddil of hem.

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 390 (MED) I sall..Ryde thrughte all þe rowtte.

?1468 in S. Bentley Excerpta Hist. (1833) 230 (MED) The olde Duchez toke hur very moderly..and ladde hur throw the abundaunce of the people..to hur chambour.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 157^v He..ffestnyt hym vp..by the hore of his horse tayle And hurlit hym..þurgh þe hoole ost.

1587 A. Day Longus's Daphnis & Chloe sig. I Hee..gaue leaue and libertie vnto the Ambassadours of Methimnia, to passe through his armie.

1649 W. Bullock Virginia impartially Examined 11 The poore Servant goes daily through the rowes of Tobacco.

1674 R. Head Forreign Jests 61 in Complaisant Compan. One sitting at Supper his Cat past to and fro through his Armes, brushing her Tail against his mouth.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 327. ¶6 His [sc. Raphael's] Flight thro' the Quires of Angels is finely imaged.

1771 Lady's Mag. Jan. 264/1 A trusty slave..had found means to pass through Soliman's troops, and get into the city.

1843 A. S. Stephens High Life N.Y. (ed. 2) i. 1/2 I went on, as fast as I could get along through the boxes and barrels that lay in the street.

1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 204 The slippery savage..was bounding through the trees.

1927 Harper's Mag. Oct. 585/1 She slipped through the crowd, dodging her friends, and reached her home.

1969 R. D. Pharr Bk. of Numbers (1970) xi. 129 She picked up a comb and ran it through her closely cut hair.

2012 N.Y. Times 7 Aug. b13/3 Her corner kick.., bouncing into the goal through the legs of several Canadian defenders.

3. Expressing movement in a more or less continuous line within a large expanse (without implying passage all the way across): along within.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense A. 4a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > [preposition] > here and there in

throughOE

aboutc1390

thoroughc1450

athwartc1550

OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. i. 4 An circul ys þe uðwitan hatað zodiacus.., þurh þæne yrnð seo sunne.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 23412 Al þat þe wiþstondynge is Þourȝe [a1400 Coll. Phys. Thurg] shaltou þirle with þi swiftenes.

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) vi. 36 (MED) A forgh iij footes deep thy londes thorgh.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1537) xxiv. f. 40 Al the day and nyght wandryng through Rome as loste persones.

1591 E. Spenser tr. J. du Bellay Visions iv, in Complaints sig. Y3 I saw her raunge abroad to seeke her food, And roming through the field with greedie rage.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. ii. 36 As he, in pennance wander'd through the Forrest.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 663 The Night-Hag..riding through the Air.

1787 G. Winter New Syst. Husbandry 82 Clouds, which being heavier than the air, of course fall thro' it.

1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow III. vii. 104 He stood up on the choak to ascertain what way she was making through the water.

1864 A. J. Barrington Diary 27 Mar. in N. M. Taylor Early Travellers N.Z. (1959) 404 Continued through the forest..till we came to a swamp.

1903 Times 14 Mar. 14/5 The Oxonians showed good form through choppy water.

1989 S. Drache Ritual Slaughter i. ii. 17 The van weaved its way northward through the city.

2015 New Yorker 1 June 77/3 It [sc. the Mars Climate Orbiter] spent the next nine and a half months travelling through the solar system.

a. Over the whole surface or extent of; in or to all or many parts of; everywhere in. Cf. throughout prep. 3a.Sometimes with emphatic all, the whole, etc.See also to go through —— 2 at go v. Phrasal verbs 2, to look through —— 2 at look v. Phrasal verbs 2, to run through —— 4 at run v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > here, there, etc. > here or there [preposition] > throughout

throughOE

throughoutc1275

across1935

OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 5 He astyrað þis folc lærende þurh ealle Iudeam.

c1300 St. Dunstan (Harl.) l. 145 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 38 (MED) Þis þreo bischops wende forþ þurf al Engelonde And eche liþer persoun caste out.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2149 (MED) Þei souȝt alle so serliche þurh cites and smale townes.

a1400 in K. W. Engeroff Untersuchung ‘Usages of Winchester’ (1914) 80 Lat crye þe bans þorgh þe town þe þridde day by-fore þe selynge.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 243 Al stouned at his steuen..þurȝ þe sale riche.

?a1475 G. Banester Guiscardo & Ghismonda (BL Add.) l. 4 in H. G. Wright Tales from Decameron (1937) 2 (MED) Through the worlde sprang hys grete fame.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin i. 10 I sought thourgh my chamber.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 125 Leif creuelte..Or throucht the warld quyte losit is ȝour name.

1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xlv. f. 226 The corrupt humoure, of those that haue a feauer..disperseth it self incureably, through all the other sensible parts of the body.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iii. vii. 13 We will make thee famous through the World.

1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 134 A little white Cloud..which by shaking, diffuses it self through all the Liquor.

1744 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons (new ed.) 103 And Thulè bellows thro' her utmost Isles.

1774 P. Proctor tr. F. de S. de La Mothe-Fénelon Adventures Telemachus I. iv. 81 May Morpheus..diffuse a pleasing languor through your wearied limbs.

1840 W. M. Hetherington Thoughts Connexion between Church & State 6 The powers of the State..must be such as to enable it to cause its own principles to permeate through the whole community.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. vii. 260 Minute particles diffused through the atmosphere.

1941 A. St. James tr. S. Zweig Brazil 211 Those roaming gangs..who roved through the whole country..in search of loot.

1989 E. L. Doctorow Billy Bathgate iv. xix. 296 She rummaged through her old cedar chest to find the baby clothes.

2015 New Yorker 16 Nov. 59/1 It takes years for genetic changes to spread through a population.

b. In postmodifying position. Frequently emphasized by all, the whole, etc., preceding the noun. Cf. sense A. 8a(b). Now rare (poetic or archaic in later use).In this construction through could alternatively be regarded as an adverb.

ΚΠ

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11824 Þe fester thrild his bodi thurgh [rhyme scurf].

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11070 Noght allan ierusalem burgh, Bot elles al þe contre thurgh [Gött. thurght, Trin. Cambr. þourȝe, c1460 Laud thorogh].

1556 R. Robinson tr. T. More Utopia (ed. 2) sig. Svii Platoes citie, Whose fame flieth the worlde throughe.

a1625 J. Fletcher Island Princesse ii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Nnn3/1 Suspectlesse have I travell'd all the towne through.

1689 England's Joy for taking off Chimney-money (single sheet) (verso) There is not one Old Dame in Ten, and search the Nation through; But when you talk of Chimney Men, shall spare a Curse or two.

1703 W. Baron Separation & Sedition Inseparable 16 He alone was Christs Bishop: all others the whole World through, had their Powers delegated from him.

1851 E. B. Browning Casa Guidi Windows ii. xv. 109 A cry is up in England, which doth ring The hollow world through.

1884 J. J. Hissey Old-fashioned Journey iii. 42 Search all England through you could not equal it.

1963 B. Dylan Gypsy Lou (song) in Lyrics 1962–2001 (2004) 26 I seen the whole country through Just to find Gypsy Lou.

†5. Following a modal auxiliary verb, with main verb (as go, pass, etc.) implied. Cf. sense B. 4c, through v. 3. Obsolete (archaic in later use).

ΚΠ

1492 tr. Dyalogus Salomon & Marcolphus sig. b Alle metys that is ordeyned for the body, muste through the bely.

1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 85 If a mans iourney lieth so, that he must nedes through the Forrest.

1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. xi. 26 You proud abhominable tents,..Ile through, and through you.

1656 Wit & Drollery 86 Did blush to see the man in gowne, Fearing the taile would through the town.

1790 G. Colman Battle of Hexham ii. 30 I'll thro' the forest and seek these wanderers.

1840 W. G. Simms Border Beagles I. v. 81 I'll through Harry Monmouth's knapsack before he takes his crumbs out.

1908 A. D. Rees William Tell 62 I'll thru Schwytz, And listen to the people's voice and heed All their complaints.

6. In predicative use, expressing position or location: having reached the other side of; on the further side of; past, beyond.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > distance or farness > distant from [preposition] > on the farther side of

beyonda1000

througha1591

aside1597

ayond1724

a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1593) 505 As you are through the narrowe gate, all is large and goodly, and pleasant.

1657 A. Hutchins Caines Bloudy Race 26 When he was through the Lake, he was made to stand still to be a Witnesse for God.

1683 J. Morrison tr. J. J. Struys Perillous Voy. iii. i. 116 When we were through the Wood, we passed through several little Villages.

1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter 93 in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 560 By this time he was cross the ford..And thro' the whins, and by the cairn.

1801 ‘Gabrielli’ Mysterious Husband II. 267 They stopped at an inn nearly through the town.

1864 Barthel Winkler 59 After advancing thus for about three-quarters-of-an-hour, we found that we were almost through the forest.

1903 O. J. S. Lindelof Trip North Pole vi. 76 By evening we were through the canyon.

1995 H. P. Jeffers Grand Night for Murder vii. 36 The bar is through the door on our right, fellas.

2001 C. Madhavan Paddy Indian xix. 217 He was nearly through the village.

7. Expressing the extent of turning from one orientation to another, esp. as expressed in degrees or as an arc of a circle.

ΚΠ

1646 S. Danforth Almanack 9 A Solar month..in which time the sun runneth through the 12th part of the Zodiack.

1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. iv. iii. It [sc. the wind] changed, and for half an hours space did nothing but shift and turn, through all the North Points of the Compass, betwixt West and East.

1728 H. Pemberton View Sir I. Newton's Philos. i. ii. 87 The greater arch the pendulous body moves through, the greater time it takes up.

1790 S. Vince Treat. Pract. Astron. ii. 31 Let us conceive the second surface to revolve through a small angle so as to be inclined by that angle to the first surface.

1841 W. Whewell Mech. Engin. i. 20 A link is a rod fastened at its extremity to another piece by a pin, so that it can turn through any angle.

1877 Hosp. Gaz. & Arch. Clin. Surg. 1 Dec. 307 The forearm normally rotates through an arc of about 180°.

1906 J. W. A. Young Teaching Math. in Elem. & Secondary School (1907) xiii. 275 In what direction does he now face? Through how many right angles has he turned?

1998 BBC Top Gear Mag. Sept. 78/1 The wheels will spin..and the rear of the car will turn through 360 degrees.

2010 C. McKay Big Ben vi. 55/2 A..pendulum swinging through an arc of several degrees.

II. With reference to time, and in other extended uses.

8. During the whole period of; from the beginning to the end of.

(a) With reference to something continuing or lasting for the whole of an amount of time. Cf. throughout prep. 3b.Sometimes with emphatic all, the whole, etc.See also to get through —— 3 at get v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > [preposition] > during

throughOE

amongOE

thoroughOE

among thatlOE

amidwarda1225

ofc1275

lengingc1400

hanginga1420

amongsta1450

depending1503

pendant1642

pending1642

OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) iii. 83 In ecnesse þurh ealra worulda woruld aa butan ende.

OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxxii. 20 Eac wes gemyndig, hu þe unwise edwita fela þurh ealne dæg [L. tota die] oft aspræcon.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 9 (MED) Þet teos hali leafdi in heouene luuie us þe mare & þurh þis lihinde lif leade us to þet eche.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 447 Ich so do þurȝ niȝt & dai.

a1325 Diuersa Cibaria in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 52 Wete heom [sc. floures] þat abeon drue, & soþþen abeon igrounden wel in an morter, & soþþen þou miht holden þur alle ȝer.

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 222 Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene.

1487–8 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 141 On euery sonday throwȝe þe yer.

1581 W. Allen Apol. Two Eng. Colleges f. 74 Al the Churches of Christ through al ages.

1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. F2 Through the length of times he stands disgraced.

1614 W. Browne Shepheards Pipe i. sig. B 2 b These my harmlesse flocke of sheepe. And through all the day I tend them.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 846 Thus Adam..lamented..Through the still Night.

1710 W. Salmon Botanologia II. dxviii. 772/2 They [sc. Nettles] come up plentifully early in the Spring, and through all the Summer Months.

1779 Mirror No. 37. ⁋5 The same sanguine temperament of mind which..has attended him through life.

1849 Family Economist 2 10/1 Those who persist in wearing cotton-stockings through the winter.

1896 T. F. Tout Edward I (ed. 2) iv. 80 All through his reign, the Lusignans helped him in Gascony.

1929 J. E. Weaver & F. E. Clements Plant Ecol. xiii. 326 Reproductive activity in some [plants] continues through several months.

1976 Amer. Jrnl. Psychiatry 133 22/2 Mothers frequently reported great difficulty in getting the children to sleep through the night.

2003 C. Birch Turn again Home ii. 33 Mam and Dad went on at each other all through tea and right on into the evening.

(b) In postmodifying position. Frequently emphasized by all, the whole, etc., preceding the noun. Cf. sense A. 4b.In this construction through could alternatively be regarded as an adverb. Cf. over prep. 19b, round prep. 10a.

ΚΠ

1540 R. Tracy tr. J. Frith Prepar. to Crosse i. vii. sig. D.viii He praied the hole day through euen to euentyde.

1588 E. Aggas tr. M. Hurault Disc. Present Estate of France 21 This man hath all his life through, yea from the beginning of his youth fought against necessitie it selfe.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. ii. 82 The businesse..held out with much debating, the yeare through.

1797 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Bot. Harmony Delineated 169 Without being incommoded, the whole journey through, with..the sultry heat of Summer.

1864 M. Gatty Parables 4th Ser. 5 He was seldom seen without one [sc. a flower] in his button-hole all the summer through.

1872 A. T. de Vere Disbelief Milcho in Legends St. Patrick 32 Fireless sits he, winter through.

1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 62/1 (advt.) The best way..to keep your floors bright and easy to clean the year through is to varnish them.

1990 Amateur Gardening 7 Apr. 12/1 (advt.) Rosemary direct from your garden all year through.

2007 C. Finch Beautiful Blue Death xxiii. 145 It had..snowed the whole night through, and there was a fresh white coat over the city.

b. With reference to doing or experiencing something in its entirety, spec. to undergoing or enduring something difficult or unpleasant.See also to go through —— 1 at go v. Phrasal verbs 2, put v. 21b, through thick and thin at thick and thin n. 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [preposition] > from beginning to end of

thorougha1325

through1494

1494 W. Hilton Scala Perfeccionis (de Worde) i. liv. sig. evii Doo as thou woldest bere it downe and goo thrugh it, Thou shalt agryse & lothe this derkenes.

1543 R. Grafton Contin. in Chron. J. Hardyng f. civ^v Kyng Rychard..purposed to go throughe thicke and thinne in this mater.

1578 T. Tymme tr. J. Calvin Comm. Genesis 326 I may not runne through vncertain speculations.

1613 J. Yakesley tr. St. Francis de Sales Introd. Devoute Life Pref. 16 Hauing conducted him through all the exercizes, which I thought conuenient to his holy desire, [etc.].

1664 Cramond Kirk Session II. 28 Dec. William Weems..petitioned the session that he might be dismist, because he could not possiblye win againe throw the throng and multitude of his masters business.

1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xiv. 132 I had..put my horse through all his paces.

1776 C. Lee Let. 19 Feb. in G. Washington Papers (1988) Revolutionary War Ser. III. 339 I must bustle through the difficulties.

1831 T. B. Macaulay Let. 15 July in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) I. iv. 233 I should have liked to have sat through so tremendous a storm.

1886 A. Sergeant No Saint I. vi. 105 An old land surveyor..put him through a long catechism.

1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xviii. 156 It is nothing to the misery that we all went through.

1967 K. Tynan Let. 13 Jan. (1994) vi. 384 It would be pointless to ask Sir Arthur to read it before then—since if he does, he will only have to plough through it again immediately afterwards.

2014 Vanity Fair Mar. 269/3 Security personnel would put her through repeated interrogations designed to elicit confessions.

a. With emphasis on completing an action, process, undertaking, etc., or (esp.) surviving or emerging from difficult circumstances: all the way to the end of. Cf. sense A. 11.See also to come through —— at come v. Phrasal verbs 2, to get through —— 1 at get v. Phrasal verbs 2, to live through —— at live v.¹ Phrasal verbs 2.

ΚΠ

1494 W. Hilton Scala Perfeccionis (de Worde) ii. xxvi. sig. ni They woll not come thrugh this derknes that I haue spoken of before.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke xxiv. f. clxxxvi^v Beyng to them a perpetuall guyde and coumpanion also, vntill he bryng them through and past all the daungiers of this presente lyfe.

1642 J. Grant Gods Deliv. Man by Prayer sig. A2 Having got through my Prayer, I propounded my Text.

1744 G. Berkeley Siris (ESTC T72826) §2 Seven children, who came all very well through the small-pox.

1795 B. H. Malkin Ess. Civilization iii. 57 Empiric Tutors may rattle through a book of Homer before dinner.

1824 New Monthly Mag. 10 19 I never could read through the Nouvelle Heloïse.

1843 J. W. Carlyle Lett. (1883) I. 253 I seemed to be got pretty well through my sewing.

1911 W. Owen Let. 21 Nov. (1967) 97 The borrowed-brainstuff which I imbibed to help me through the Exam.

1976 Ld. Home Way Wind Blows xvi. 219 He came through the debates with a greatly enhanced reputation as a Parliamentarian.

2004 A. Greig In Another Light (2005) 188 He's got this far, got through the war, university, survived the flu.

b. Chiefly North American. Up to (a number, date, or other item in an ordered sequence) inclusively; up to the end of; up to and including. Cf. inclusive adv.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > condition or state of being inclusive > in the number or class of [preposition] > up to and including

through1798

1798 T. Holcroft Diary 4 Aug. in Memoirs (1816) III. 31 Continued the opera through scene 9, Act 3.

1851 N. I. Bowditch Hist. Mass. Gen. Hosp. 405 Presidents. William Phillips..from 1814..through 1826..13 years.

1873 Ann. Rep. Board Educ. 1872 (Auburn Public Schools) 79 Complete through page 75 Pupil's Edition of Beebe's First Steps.

1882 Amer. Farmer 15 Oct. 293/2 The..cattle show..was held in Utica last week, from Monday through Friday.

1930 H. Brown (title) Rabelais in English literature through Sterne.

1971 Physics Bull. Dec. 738/1 In the review copy pages 1469 through 1472 are already loose which does not say too much for the quality of the binding.

2010 August (Georgia) Chron. (Nexis) 2 May 1 The beauty shop is open for styling Thursday through Saturday.

10.

a. With reference to the stages of a period of time, event, etc., or (in early use esp.) the parts of a book, speech, etc.: during the course of; at various points during.

ΚΠ

?1526 G. Hervet tr. Erasmus De Immensa Dei Misericordia sig. M For of prayers, wepynge, fastyng,..is nowe spoken here and there through al the sermon.

1554 J. Proctor tr. St. Vincent of Lérins Waie Home to Christ sig. M.iii^v Lyinge heretikes abuse the testimony of the scriptures... For ye shall se them flye throughe euerie volume and parte therof, throughe all the bokes of Moyses, [etc.].

1622 T. Taylor Pilgrims Profession 81 Exercise our selues in holy meditations, prayers, and prayses, sundry tymes through the day.

1774 W. Mitford Ess. Harmony Lang. 93 I cannot find any thing like [it]..thro the whole essay.

1804 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 9) Advt. 8 (note) The occasional strictures, dispersed through the book,..will not..appear to be dry and useless discussions.

1852 New Jersey Med. Reporter Aug. 416 Upon reflection, through the day, I concluded that I had taken an overcharge.

1968 New Amer. Rev. ii. 159 She makes various attempts through the film to rouse him.

2015 Courier (Dundee) 17 July (Perth & Perthshire ed.) 8/2 Winds are expected to pick up through the day.

b. With reference to an intervening or intermediate stage or condition which is gone past in a process or course of action. Cf. sense A. 12.Frequently with pass: see also to pass through —— at pass v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΚΠ

1603 W. Clark Replie Libell Father Parsons f. 80 [He] hath runne through so many titles, euer shifting to the greatest, as occasions doe require.

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 5 Obedience fully tri'd Through all temptation.

1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1784 II. 480 Dr. Gillespie, who..had the advantage of having passed through the gradations of surgery and pharmacy.

1818 T. Moore Fudge Family in Paris vi. 103 They graduate Through job, red ribbon, and silk gown, To Chancellorship and Marquisate.

1881 A. P. Stanley Christian Inst. (1882) vii. 131 In the new crisis through which the world was to pass.

1922 F. M. Ford Let. 12 Feb. (1965) 138 E. J. is going through such a peevish stage with her teeth that to have her in the house would be no pleasure.

1990 R. MacGregor Quantity Time 121 This could prove invaluable should the child move through Tweenies and Brownies and Guides and on, one day, to federal politics.

2015 N.Y. Times Mag. 14 June 25/1 Touring a Brooklyn neighborhood that has passed through a phase of mere gentrification to become fully luxurized.

c. Used to indicate an intermediate item in a sequence or list (without necessarily implying consecutive development).Correlating with from (from prep. 2b) indicating the first item and to (to prep. 13b) indicating the last.

ΚΠ

1770 Polit. Reg. July 13 It [sc. genealogy] goes up from George the Second, through all these princes, to Henry the First.

1851 Critic 1 Sept. 421/3 All the shades of green, from the darkest olive, through the most brilliant emerald, to..delicate yellow green.

1859 S. Smiles Self-help 21 From the general down through all grades to the private and bugleman.

1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling xi. 110 His wares included..necessities..from plows, wagons, buggies and implements, through food staples to whiskey and hardware.

1962 Listener 26 July 130/2 Rents range from just over £3 a month for a small flat, through about £14 for a two-bedroom house, to £23 for the most elegant apartments.

2007 P. Gale Notes from Exhib. (2008) 75 An onslaught of every species of affection from sorrowful looks through handshakes to hugs.

11. In predicative use, expressing a state of completion. Cf. sense B. 5a(b).

a. Having reached the end of (a task, book, etc.).Frequently, and in earliest use, with modifier, as half through, halfway through, quarter-way through, etc.: having reached the specified stage of; having completed the specified amount of.

ΚΠ

a1641 J. Everard Some Gospel-treasures Opened (1653) 178 If by opening all these names, which yet I am not half through, I can bring about but the acknowledging your own guiltiness, I shall think my labour well bestowed.

1681 W. Paterson Remarques New Project Assoc. 6 The late Usurpers themselves were halfe way through the Rebellion, before they arriv'd at that degree of Boldnesse.

1788 W. Hazlitt Let. Mar. (1979) iii. 45 I shall be through the whole cyphering book this summer, and then I am to learn Euclid.

1791 T. Jefferson Writings (1896) V. 330 I think I can be through them [sc. a bundle of letters] by the end of the week.

1834 D. Crockett Narr. Life viii. 64 I am glad that I am now through war matters.

1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. iv. 68 We're only half through Lent term.

1947 Sunday Reg. (Beckley, W. Va.) 16 Feb. 9/6 I'm through work at 5:30 every afternoon.

1991 Vanity Fair Mar. 158/2 We are almost a third of the way through an unending primer on the artifacts of life in New York.

2014 A. Fine Of Metal & Wishes (2015) xiii. 146 By lunchtime I'm through the stack of notes from yesterday and ready for another.

b. Having passed (a test or examination). Later also: having successfully completed (a particular stage of a competition). Cf. sense B. 5a(c).It is sometimes unclear whether the reference is to successfully passing a test, etc., or more generally to completing it (sense A. 11a).

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > examination > examine [verb (intransitive)] > pass examination

to get through1805

through1830

pass1843

to shave through1860

scratch1890

1830 C. Darwin Let. 25 Mar. in Corr. (1985) I. 101 I am through my little Go!

1863 E. King Let. 25 Jan. in Spiritual Lett. (1910) 10 I am very glad you are through your examination.

1917 M. Mears Candid Courtship xxv. 303 As soon as ever I was through my exam, I was going to specialize in public health work.

1996 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 16 Jan. 25 After his match, Philippoussis was slapped on the back by Bollettieri: ‘There you go! We're through the first round.’

2016 Times of India (Nexis) 22 May Now that I am through my exams, I will take some time out and decide what I really want to pursue.

c. colloquial. With verbal noun or gerund as complement: having stopped (doing something); spec. having had enough of; ‘done with’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > completing > complete or conclude action [verb (intransitive)]

enda1340

finisha1400

conclude1526

to get through1589

get1594

dispatcha1616

to shut up1626

to wind up1631

finale1797

to top off1836

to top up1837

through1894

to roll up1963

1894 Outing 24 428/2 You may as well tell him that you're through taking lessons.

1904 F. Lynde Grafters vi. 78 After we were all through laughing at him.

1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues iii. 40 I had decided I was through turning tricks as a call girl.

1990 M. Levine Deep Cover xi. 292 I found a very pissed-off Steve Nelson in his office. He was through waiting.

2013 Illawarra (New S. Wales) Mercury (Nexis) 26 Nov. 34 I've talked my whole career, I'm through talking, I'm ready to fight.

III. Expressing agency, means, or cause.

12.

a. By means of; by the intermediate agency of; with the aid of; via. In early use also: †by the primary agency or action of (obsolete).See also to go through —— 4 at go v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > by the instrumentality of [preposition]

ofeOE

throughOE

throughouta1250

moyenant?1473

moyening1512

via1930

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke xvii. 1 Inpossibile est ut non ueniunt scandala, uae autem illi per quem ueniunt : unmæhtiglic is þætte ne cymo ða ondspyrniso wę ðonne ðæm ðerh ðone hia cymas.

OE Cynewulf Fates of Apostles 63 We þæt gehyrdon þurh halige bec, þæt mid Sigelwarum soð yppe wearð, dryhtlic dom godes!.

OE Cynewulf Elene 289 Ic þæt gearolice ongiten hæbbe þurg witgena wordgeryno on godes bocum þæt ge geardagum wyrðe wæron wuldorcyninge, dryhtne dyre ond dædhwæte.

?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1132 Þurh Godes milce & þurh þe biscop of Seresbyri.., þa wiste þe king ðat he feorde mid suicdom.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13254 Ȝa þurrh fulluhht. ȝa þurrh hannd gang. Att hadedd manness hande.

1258 Proclam. Henry III in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1868–9) 19 Henr' þurȝ godes fultume king on Engleneloande.

c1300 Pilate (Harl.) 89 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 113 He huld him bitrayd þurf felonie.

?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 108 (MED) A serpent he com þroȝ felonie And makid Eue chonge hir þoȝt.

a1350 (a1325) St. Cecilia (Ashm.) l. 224 in Yale Stud. in Eng. (1898) 3 88 (MED) Alas..þis vair creature Schal nou ȝeue hire ȝonge lif, & deie þour fure.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ix. l. 151 Þus þourw cursed caym cam care vppon erthe.

?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 31 (MED) Þi grace grawnt þou me throwh þi gret mercy.

c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 16 A grete navy..ovyrcom throw myghty fyghtyng.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 137 Throuch thar aller hale assent, Messingeris till hym thai sent.

1573 J. Tyrie Refut. Ansuer Knox f. 57^v To expose thame self troch sic wane subterfugis.

1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue sig. B iij Abell was slayne..through the handes of his brother Cain.

1645 E. W. Life & Death William Lawd To Rdr. sig. A2 The old Serpent the Devill, speaking through a Dying man,..would have beguiled all the Christian world.

1691 W. Yworth New Art of making Wines ii. 15 First we shall consider the various sorts of dissections there be, to be performed through Chymical and Spagirical operations.

1721 Place's Hypothetical Notion of Plague 23 Solids not being infectible but thro' the Mediation of their own Fluids.

1793 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 153 The answer given to Monsieur Lesardier was through a young gentleman.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 123 [He] could not prevent the national sentiment from expressing itself through the pulpit and the press.

1885 Act 48 & 49 Victoria c. 53 §15 Every notice..sent through the post in a prepaid registered letter.

1915 O. K. Parr Through Dartmoor Window iv. 27 A certain London editor..has sent me a pained message through a mutual friend.

1966 Negro Digest Oct. 78/1 Through literature, theater and art, the revolutionizing of the consciousness of the black people can be achieved.

1997 Internet Mag. Jan. 74/3 As AOL is a community you can talk to other members either through email or live chat.

2015 Wall St. Jrnl. 15 Aug. a1/6 U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed through tests that mustard agent was used.

†b. Introducing the agent after a passive verb; = by prep. 33a. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

OE Blickling Homilies 9 Iu geara heofonrices duru..belocen standeþ.., nu heo sceal þonne þurh þe ontened beon.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvi. 24 Wa þam menn þurh þone þe byþ mannes sunu belæwed.

OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 363 Ic wearð yfele gelett þurh ænne haligne munuc, se hatte Publius.

a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 83 (MED) Adam wes ilechned þurh god almihti solf.

a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 563 Crist is tokned ðurȝ ðis der.

c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) civ. 16 (MED) Joseph was solde to þral þurth hem.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 20909 In rome throu an þat hight neron..Naild on þe rod he was.

1424 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1814) II. 5/1 Chargit be þe gret aithe throwe þe bischope.

a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 12 Vnnethes he was I-draw vp throgh his felowes, þat mych put har lyf in aduentur for to saw his lif.

1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 43 b/1 The skinne beinge lift vp through some seruant, or through the Chyrurgiane with his Pinsers.

c. Expressing association with one person via (another); spec. expressing relationship via (a common ancestor).

ΚΠ

1823 School for Sisters xi. 131 Lady Osbourne was connected, through a former husband, with several families of rank.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 526 John Ayloffe, a lawyer connected by affinity with the Hydes, and through the Hydes, with James.

1868 Chambers's Encycl. I. 76 Agnates, in the law both of England and Scotland, are persons related through the father, as cognates are persons related through the mother.

1939 E. Marsh Number of People vi. 126 Wilfrid Blunt could call cousins with Shelley through a common Sussex ancestress.

1990 J. Cantalupo & T. C. Renner Body Mike 104 I met Connie through a real estate salesgirl I knew.

2000 K. Barber Generation of Plays iii. 62 She was..related to the royal family through her father's mother.

13.

a. Expressing cause, reason, or motive: because of; in consequence of, on account of, owing to; (now frequently) on account of (a particular personal quality).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [preposition] > because of

throughOE

thoroughOE

ofc1175

fornec1440

seen1485

about1600

froma1616

OE Genesis B 610 Þa se forhatena spræc þurh feondscipe.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvi. 31 Þurh þæs hyrdes slege byð seo heord todræfed.

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1127 Þet wes eall ðurh þone kyng Heanri.

a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 191 Ðurch onde com deað in to þe worelde.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 144 (MED) Fader & his moder, þorh him heo sculden deiȝen.

c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 1400 Ich ne beo noȝt worthi..That the King scholde thurf me in wraththe beon ibroȝt.

a1325 (?c1300) Northern Passion (Cambr. Gg.1.1) l. 1203 (MED) Þe appil, þroth Eue is rede, Broth Adam to þe ded.

J. Gaytryge Lay Folks' Catech. (York Min.) (1901) l. 14 (MED) He made skillwise creatures, angel and man..to knaw god al-myghten, And, thurg thair knawing, loue him and serue him.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1969) Isa. v. 13 His noble men dieden þurȝ hungir.

a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate Siege Thebes (Arun.) (1911) l. 1297 (MED) He was blynde þorgh derknesse of the nyght.

c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 3 Þe paralityke man..heled of our lorde..þroughe þe beleve off theyme þat bare hym.

1562 in J. Stuart Sel. Rec. Kirk Aberdeen (1846) 9 Gryte thyft, committit throcht verray neid and necessite.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 369 If he through frailty err.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 90 Thro' Wine they quarrell'd, and thro' Wine were slain.

1739 H. Bracken Lithiasis Anglicana 41 The Distemper may likewise have its rise from retaining the Urine too long, whether through Modesty or Laziness.

1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere ii, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 14 Every tongue thro' utter drouth Was wither'd at the root.

1823 J. Lingard Hist. Eng. VI. 223 A pontiff unfit for his station through ignorance.

1894 J. T. Fowler in St. Adamnan Vita S. Columbae Introd. 56 The southern Picts..embraced the truth through the preaching of St. Ninian.

1933 Financial Times 19 Apr. 7/7 Through their own stupidity, they will have sacrificed their best interests.

1981 J. Halliday & J. Halliday in K. Thear & A. Fraser Compl. Bk. Livestock & Poultry (1988) iv. 81/2 Goats are notorious escapers, partly through sheer curiosity and partly through the desire to search for different foods.

2001 S. Waugh Ess. Mod. World Hist. xi. 517 Any interruption of work through illness, old age or unemployment would lead to poverty.

b. In accordance with, according to or conforming with.

ΚΠ

eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xxv. 342 Oft in gebeorscipe, þonne þær wæs blisse intinga gedemed, þæt heo ealle scalde þurh endebyrdnesse be hearpan singan.

OE Laws: Iudex (Nero) ii. 474 Sume gyltas beoð fram þam godan deman þurh riht to betanne, sume þurh mildheortnesse to forgyfanne.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) l. 106 (MED) Engles ant sawlen..mahten endin þurh cunde, ah he..maked ham þet ha beoð in eche buten ende.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. x. 15 Þe talwes þat been brent in þe auter, þei han arered byfore þe lord..perteynyn to þe & to þy sonys þour perpetuel lawe.

a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 817 (MED) Þe pope..may, þurgh no resun, Þe sunday puttyn vp no dowun.

a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 1717 (MED) Þe body es dedly here thurgh kynde.

a1500 (?a1425) Antichrist (Peniarth) in R. M. Lumiansky & D. Mills Chester Myst. Cycle (1974) I. App. 516 (MED) A, lord..That reverence the, thowe on theym rede and theym thrughe right relevyd.

1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. iii. 27 Euen those which through custome did celebrate the pluralitie of Gods, did yet notwithstanding beleeue that there is but onely one true God.

1661 Life & Acts William Wallace iv. i. 42 Sir Rannald Crawfurd..through right was born Sheriff of Aire.

1840 Common School Jrnl. (Boston) 1 May 129 The occasions they [sc. the most instructive books] furnish to the reader, to exert all his own vigor upon the subject, and, through the law of mental association, to bring all his own faculties to act upon it.

1924 Wall St. Jrnl. 29 Feb. 11/1 The 1922 state law vesting water power companies with authority to acquire private property by condemnation through right of eminent domain.

2016 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 4 Sept. 31 Support for the SNP is at historic levels... But many activists fear that it can only fall in future through the laws of political gravity, the longer the party is in office.

†14. In oaths and invocations: in the name of. Cf. by prep. 2. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [preposition] > denoting basis of an oath > in oaths: by or in the name of

throughOE

OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xxii. 16 Ic swerige ðurh me sylfne, sæde se Ælmihtiga.

OE Christ & Satan 693 Ic þe hate þurh þa hehstan miht þæt ðu hellwarum hyht ne abeode.

c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 8 Ne unrotsæ þu me na swiðor, ac, ðurh þone almihtiȝæ god, ic bidde þe þet ðu hit me nu sceawiȝe.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 92 Þurch þilke neiles ich halsi ou ancren..haldeð ouwer honden inwið ouwer þurles.

c1300 St. Edmund Rich (Laud) 307 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 440 Þurf oure louerdes passioun, tel nou..me.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3127 I coniure þe, þurth crist..þatou titli me telle..wheþer þow be a god gost.

†15. With respect to, in connection with. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 24 He swiðlice bereowsode þæt he swa mucel agult hæfde þurh ðæt haliȝ treow.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 120 All Crisstene follkess..Iss lang upp o þatt an. þatt teȝȝ..Wiþþ fulle mahhte follȝhe rihht. Þurrh þohht. þurrh word. þurrh dede.

a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 65 (MED) Þu yeuest a wrecche weole y-nouh, noht þurh his hele.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. v. 23 Ȝe comyn to me alle þe princis of þe lynagys & þe more þour burþe.

B. adv.

I. Expressing movement or direction.

a. From end to end, side to side, or surface to surface; so as to pass all the way across; so as to pierce or penetrate. Also in figurative contexts. Cf. sense A. 1a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [adverb] > through > right through

throughoutOE

throughOE

through and throughc1225

thorough and thoroughc1300

out-througha1325

thoroughlya1500

OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxxvii. 15 He sæ toslat, sealte yþa gefæstnade, and hi foran þurh.

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5019 (MED) Mani þai hitten and smiten þurth.

c1425 Castle of Love (Egerton) (1967) l. 647 (MED) His fete nayled thurd with yrne nayles Made asseth for al thi wikkid trauayles.

c1450 J. Metham Palmistry (Garrett) in Wks. (1916) 91 Als strekyn thourth with oon lyne or with many lynes.

a1500 (c1400) Vision of Tundale (Adv.) (1843) l. 327 Tho heyte of the fuyr dyd throw pas.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lix. 205 Huon..strake hym with his spere clene throwe.

1578 T. C. Hospitall for Diseased 56 Rase the same lether but not through.

1634 W. Wood New Englands Prospect ii. xv. 88 They..stab their marke quite through, if the bones hinder not.

1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre ii. 49 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian Anciently there was no passage through.

1719 I. Watts Hymns ii. lix. 2 Glory to God that walks the sky, And sends his blessing thro'.

1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere i, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 9 The Ice did split with a Thunder-fit; The Helmsman steer'd us thro'.

1850 J. Leitch tr. K. O. Müller Ancient Art (new ed.) §337 A..garment..drawn..over the right arm, or else through beneath it towards the left arm.

1878 Macmillan's Mag. July 165 Your question..has probed right through To the pith of our belief.

1959 Home Encycl. 51 Using a fish slice, cut the fish through to the backbone.

2006 Independent 5 Aug. 37/4 You had to squeeze against your neighbour,..to let someone through with a tray of drinks.

b. With reference to the transmission of light, or the action of looking or seeing, from one side of an opening, gap, or transparent object to the other. Also in figurative contexts. Cf. sense A. 1b.

ΚΠ

OE Judith 49 Þær wæs eallgylden fleohnet fæger ymbe þæs folctogan bed ahongen, þæt se bealofulla mihte wlitan þurh, wigena baldor, on æghwylcne þe ðær inne com.

1567 Sir N. Throgmorton Let. 9 Aug. in T. Wright Queen Elizabeth & her Times (1838) I. 262 Surely they see through into your doings.

1573 G. Gascoigne Disc. Aduentures Master F. I. in Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 280 She poynting hir Maister to the keyhole, bad him looke through.

a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1958) IX. 237 Though he interline it with other studies..yet the Text it selfe..will shine through and appeare.

1694 G. Tullie Disc. Govt. of Thoughts iii. 174 Look through at those things that lie within the Vail.

1738 H. Grove Disc. conc. Lord's Supper (ed. 2) 15 I can easily perceive his divine Glory shining through.

1841 Tracts for Times No. 89 57 Some behold only the body of the Scriptures... Others see through to the meaning.

1849 N. Hawthorne Main Street in E. P. Peabody Æsthetic Papers 162 You can discern it in them, illuminating their faces..with a light that invariably shines through.

1921 Motor Boating Feb. 66/2 In fog, mist,..or heavy rainstorms, when vessels cannot actually see through, fog signals only must be given.

1987 Gourmet Apr. 148/2 Occasionally the sun peeped through.

2016 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 21 Apr. 62/2 As with all transparent matter, light just passes through.

c. With reference to travel or transport: along the whole distance; all the way to the destination (also in figurative contexts). Later chiefly spec.: all the way to the destination without stops, transfers, additional payments, etc. Frequently with to. Cf. through adj. 2b.See also to book through at book v. Phrasal verbs.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [adverb] > to the end of a journey

each footc1300

throughc1450

thorougha1475

c1450 Mandeville's Trav. (Coventry) (1973) l. 470 (MED) To Malleleuile he passeth throuhe Ouere þe ryuer of Dayneby.

1577 in G. Best Voy. Martin Frobisher (1867) 94 When the captayne were gone throughe to Kathai, the ship should lade this thinge for ballast.

1597 A. Hartwell tr. D. Lopes Rep. Kingdome of Congo i. i. 12 From whence if ye will go through to the hauen of Loanda, yee must saile the length of an hundred and fourescore miles.

1617 J. Bargrave in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 198 in Parl. Papers (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 His packets sometimes fail when private letters go through.

1692 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 376 He was accompanied part of the way by the queen..and Essex, who went thro'.

1733 A. Pope Ess. Man: Epist. II 17 Hope travels thro', nor quits us when we die.

1786 Morning Post 10 Nov. This is..the only carriage in which places are booked through to the Head.

1848 Merchants' Mag. Sept. 333 Boston and New York, via Norwich... Fare through, $5.

1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 6 Jan. in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) 6 The great bulk of our luggage had been registered through to Paris.

1923 Humorist 4 Aug. 44/2 They put a whole lot of imbecile questions to the booking-clerk as to what platform their train starts from, and if it goes right through and what time they get there.

1952 Irish Times 26 Sept. 7/4 There again it [sc. the mail] is unloaded as the train goes through to Hull.

2007 Independent 10 Feb. (Mag.) 13/3 His hold baggage..was already checked through to Karachi.

†d. Following a modal auxiliary verb, with main verb (as get, go, pass, etc.) implied. Cf. senses A. 5, B. 4c. Obsolete (archaic in later use).

ΚΠ

c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lxiii (MED) Bot, hert! quhere as the body may noght throu, Folow thy hevin!

?1561 T. Blundeville Newe Bk. Arte of Ryding sig. B.ii^v [He] hard all men say, it was mete to gyue place..but..he wold through whatsoeuer became of it.

a1625 J. Fletcher Chances i. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Aaa^v/1 I must through; if yee dare side me.

1647 N. Nye Art of Gunnery i. 20 If you cannot sift it through the sive, beat that again into powder which will not through.

1906 M. Bowen Viper of Milan xxi. 216 We must pass, we must through this moment.

e. With specified measurement: in width, breadth, or thickness; from side to side; in diameter. Cf. across adv. 4.

ΚΠ

1615 E. Sharpe Britaines Busse sig. B3 Each net must haue a rope 5 or 6 Fathom long and an Inch through.

a1687 W. Petty Treat. Naval Philos. i. iv, in T. Hale Acct. New Inventions (1691) 128 A Mast above 30 inches through.

1798 A. Ellis Country Dyer's Assistant ii. 22 Negroger is brought to us in sticks about six inches through.

1856 I. F. Holton New Granada xxix. 436 All land covered with thicket is called monte if but a few miles through, and montaña if more.

1885 Amer. Architect & Building News 29 Aug. 100/1 A platform composed..of wooden beams, each 12 centimetres through, placed crosswise over each other.

1908 G. B. Sudworth Forest Trees Pacific Slope 371 The horse-bean is a short-trunked, smooth-barked tree from 15 to 25 feet high and from 4 to 8 inches through.

1990 Hobart Mercury (Nexis) 6 Aug. [He] had Don manufacture a Don Whopper [i.e. a sausage]—122 centimetres long and 20 centimetres through.

2. In every part; over the whole extent; throughout the whole substance or thickness; thoroughly.

a. Postmodifying an adjective or past participle, as wet through, heated through, etc. Later also following a verb or clause, as to wet someone through, to heat something through, etc.See also wet through at wet adj. 4c.

ΚΠ

c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 381 (MED) He swett so þat all his clothis warr wett thrugh.

1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. G.i/1 Clowtes wet in the same water and layde vpon the blaynes whiche be broken through cawseth them to be hole.

1590 J. Blagrave Baculum Familliare App. 67 Both legges shall bee whole and sounde quite through.

1615 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Cupids Revenge iii. sig. G4^v Commonly they [sc. women] are like Apples: If once they bruse They will growe rotten through.

a1665 K. Digby Closet Opened (1669) 206 Broil them, till they are hot through, but not dry.

a1766 F. Sheridan Concl. Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph (1770) IV. 53 He had been wet quite through.

1816 J. K. Tuckey Narr. Exped. River Zaire (1818) v. 179 During the night we had two smart showers of rain, which..wetted us through.

1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 165 Thy..trunk is nearly rotten through.

1892 G. Hake Mem. 80 Years lxiii. 259 The natives get hot-through in the..spring and summer months.

1922 Peanut Promoter Mar. 38/2 Put sugar and water in saucepan. Let stand until sugar is moist thru and put over slow fire.

1970 Gourmet Aug. 58/1 Add the mushrooms to the chicken, and heat them through.

2015 E. de Mariaffi Devil you Know iv. 46 My hat..was lying on the outer doorstep, soaked through and frozen.

†b. Premodifying an adjective or past participle, as through dry, through heated, etc. Cf. thorough adv. 1. Obsolete.Developed from compounds at through- prefix 2, where more established uses have been placed.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb] > completely or thoroughly

welleOE

furtherlyc1175

through and through?1316

perfectlya1400

radically?a1425

roundly?a1425

substantiallya1425

perfectc1425

thoroughly1442

substantiallyc1449

throughlya1450

naitlyc1450

through1472

surely?a1475

cleanc1475

through stitch1573

fundamentally1587

down1616

perfectedly1692

minutely1796

homea1825

good1834

rotten1840

out1971

full on1979

1472 in H. J. F. Swayne Churchwardens' Accts. Sarum (1896) 4 j playne Chalyce with his patent both through gilte.

?a1475 Noble Bk. Cookry in Middle Eng. Dict. at Thurgh-stif To roste venison, tak feletes of venyson bound and cutt away the skyne and parboile it and let it be throughe stiff; then lard it with salt and put it on a smale broche and rost it.

a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) l. 463 (MED) I was siluere perfite, throwgh fyne; Now am I golde excellent, better þan the prime.

1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. b.i^v/2 Take an erthen canne and sette it in an ouen.., whan it is thrugh warme, than put in it molten waxe.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 32 In wintir quhen thay ar throuch fatt.

1631 T. Heywood Fair Maid of West: 2nd Pt. iii. sig. E4^v Through satiate with the pleasures of this night.

1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 762 Materials being now through dry by the heat of the weather.

1691 E. Taylor J. Behmen's Theosophick Philos. i. xvi. 382 Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire.

3. In predicative use, expressing position or location.

a. Having reached the other side; on the further side.Frequently, and in earliest use, with modifier, as half through, halfway through, etc.: having reached the specified point on the way to the other side.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [adverb] > through > having passed through

through1587

1587 L. Mascall First Bk. Cattell iii. (Hogges) 293 If your trenches be short, ye maie pricke a wand in the mids therof, which will shew when she is halfe through.

1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes III. iv. iii. 712 I was perswaded..to go betwixt the Iland and the Mayne, but when I was almost through,..I could not find water enough for the ship.

1649 Moderate Intelligencer No. 219. 2073 Lieutenant Col. Strachan who commanded the fore-partie, consisting of about 50 horse, being through, marched on.

1701 E. Veryard Acct. Divers Choice Remarks 84 The Hole being finish'd, one of the Night-walkers came in with his Legs foremost, whom the People within seiz'd when his Body was about half thro'.

?1796 H. More Black Giles the Poacher: Pt. I ('Cheaper' ed.) 4 They are very apt to let the gate slap full against you, before you are half way through.

1838 H. Martineau Retrospect Western Trav. II. 63 We entered the tremendous gateway... When we were through and had rejoined our wagon, my attention was directed to the Profile.

1856 Home Circle Aug. 386/1 We are almost through. Already the shout of joy and triumph is sent from the bank.

1930 D. Cottrell Earth Battle 302 Many found the fence gaps and were through.

2006 D. Trussoni Falling through Earth (2007) iv. 35 I wasn't too worried about the fence... I was almost through when a gunshot rang through the forest.

b. With reference to a telephone call or caller: connected; having reached another person by telephone. Now esp. with to. Cf. to put through 2 at put v. Phrasal verbs 1.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telephony > [adverb] > connected

through1893

1893 W. H. Preece & A. J. Stubbs Man. Teleph. iv. xv. 256 As soon as the ringing key is released the two subscribers are through.

1915 Telephony 6 Feb. 33/2 The telephone jester announced: ‘You're through to Birmingham.’

1932 D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase iii. 33 The grocer announced that Harriet's call was through... ‘Hullo!’ she said.

1977 Rolling Stone 30 June 80/3 Directly getting Honolulu information, I got a number for Wiley Hampson and presently was through to him at his home in Hawaii Kai.

2016 Sun (Nexis) 1 Jan. 43 Now when my phone rings I say: ‘Hello, you're through to Ripley police station.’

II. With reference to time, and in other extended uses.

a. With reference to a period of time, course of action, task, book, etc.: from beginning to end; for the whole duration or extent. Cf. sense A. 8.See also to read through at read v. Phrasal verbs.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb] > fully or to full extent or in full > from beginning to end

througha1225

overc1400

throughoutc1450

thoroughc1475

throughly1531

straight1756

a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 237 He wes acende of þe clene mede þe efer þurh lefede mede.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. vi. 383 When shall I heare all through ?

1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 196 I may boldly say, I never yet read a whole Gazetta through.

1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 133 Who now reads Bolingbroke? Who ever read him through ?

1865 A. C. Swinburne Chastelard i. i. 11 She must weep If she sing through.

1891 Law Times 92 18/2 Having heard the case through and seen the witnesses.

1918 Amer. Lutheran Apr. 1 The deacon sits it through with a yawn, because he has to.

1989 Viz Oct. 21/1 Sausages, eggs, sugar—even trousers are rationed. But..beleaguered Britain keeps smiling through.

2015 P. Hawkins Girl on Train 41 We're struggling to get her [sc. a baby] to sleep through.

b. With emphasis on completion: so as to arrive at a successful conclusion or outcome; so as to survive or emerge from difficult circumstances. Cf. sense A. 9a.See also to carry through 2 at carry v. Phrasal verbs, to come through 1a at come v. Phrasal verbs 1, to pull through at pull v. Phrasal verbs, to see through at see v. Phrasal verbs 1.

ΚΠ

a1460 E. Clere in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 199 I seid his maister schuld leve his mayntenaunce, wherof I schuld haue right good suerte or ellys we schuld not go thorgh esyly.

c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 80 Traistand jn god, and jn his gude rycht to bring him throuche.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccliii. 375 The mariage..was driuen through and agreed.

1556 in J. W. Clay North Country Wills (1908) I. 239 Iff he helpe my executors through for the making of my accompte with the King.

1682 M. Rowlandson Narr. of Captivity & Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson in R. H. Pearce Colonial Amer. Writing (1956) 132 God..is fully able to carry them through and make them see.

1708 W. Wilson in A. Ferrier Mem. Rev. W. Wilson (1830) 43 I pray that God may..give me prudence and resolution to apply my mind to my study, that I may not linger, but come through with credit and success.

1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well III. x. 258 Let me manage the affair for you, and I will bring you through with a flowing sail.

1884 Cent. Mag. Jan. 428/2 Spunk'll sometimes pull a man through.

1900 Daily News 12 Nov. 3/4 I had taken on a task, and I was bound to see it through.

1978 W. Wasserstein Uncommon Women & Others i. v. 23 Every freshman has a junior sister and a secret senior elf to help them through.

2010 Grocer Feb. 13/1 Though Buffett is clearly not a fan of the deal, he may have helped push it through.

†c. Following a modal auxiliary verb, with main verb (as get, go, pass, etc.) implied. Cf. senses A. 5, B. 1d, through v. 2b. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Husbandman l. 2321 in Poems (1981) 87 This will not throu but grit coist and expence.

1680 J. Touchet Mem. iv. 43 But how plainly soever I saw my ill condition, I must through as well as I could.

5. In predicative use, expressing a state of completion.

†(a) Having reached an agreement. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1445 A. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 27 The vikarie of Paston and yowre fadre,..wher thorwe and acordidde, and doolis sette howe broode the weye schuld ben.

(b) Having completed or accomplished a process, task, etc.; spec. having had enough of something.In earliest use with modifier, as almost through, half through, halfway through, etc.: at the specified stage in completing something.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > completing > [adverb] > completed

througha1616

off1683

1447–8 in S. A. Moore Lett. & Papers J. Shillingford (1871) i. 37 (MED) Y thanked hym and seide with his gode lordship we were almost thurgh and at an ende, y seyyng also..‘y knowe we buth alle most thurgh.’

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. iii. 123 I am halfe through, The one part suffered, the other will I doe.

1682 N. Tate Ingratitude of Common-wealth ii. 22 Yet am I half through.

1815 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 513 Many that have usually finished their Wheat-seeding by this time, are only half through, and some have not sown a grain.

1887 Scribner's Mag. May 622/2 He..then..scrawled a dash underneath. ‘There! I'm through!’ he said.

1930 J. B. Priestley Angel Pavement x. 508 ‘You're through then, eh?’ ‘All I can do to-night, Mr Smeeth.’

1988 M. Marrin Eye of Beholder ii. 12 That's it... I'm through. I've had enough of this crew.

2000 M. Beaumont e 326 If you hang on till I'm through we can go out.

(c) Originally: having passed a test or examination. Later chiefly: having successfully passed to the next stage of a competition (esp. with to). Cf. sense A. 11b.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > examination > [adverb] > having passed examination

through1849

1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xxi. 196 ‘This man has passed,’ he thought, ‘and I have failed!’..‘Good bye, Spavin,’ said he. ‘I'm very glad you are through.’

1866 Belgravia Nov. 76 The examiners..are now consulting together as to who is ‘through’ and who is ‘plucked’.

1891 R. F. Murray Scarlet Gown 80 If I were through in Moral, And you were spun in Math. [etc.].

1937 Scotsman 29 Nov. 5/1 Bromley and Walthamstow Avenue are safely through to the next round.

1973 Irish Times 20 July 3/6 The glorious uncertainty of golf came into play...Dermody three putted and Sutton were through.

2008 Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent) 27 Nov. 37/4 Holden Lane..are through to the quarter-finals after beating Kidsgrove B.

b. With reference to a period of time, event, task, etc.: at an end, completed, finished; over.In earliest use with modifier, as almost through, half through, halfway through, etc.: at the specified stage of completion.

ΚΠ

1743 S. Johnson Let. 2 Jan. (1992) I. 32 Mrs. Johnson's Illness..is, I hope, now almost through.

1786 R. Burns Poems 86 But ere the course o'life be through, It may be bitter sautet.

1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xix. 57 We had just so much work to do, and when that was through, the time was our own.

1896 Daily News 18 July 3/1 [He] did not arrive till the speech was half through.

1920 Outlook 3 Nov. 402/1 What is the Red Cross doing, now that its war work is through?

1972 N.Y. Times 22 May 43/1 We were given for our sins a musical about Hawaii.., and before it was halfway through I realized..that I would rather have been in Las Vegas.

2016 Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Nexis) 24 Feb. 4 Mr Mudell was determined to share a drink with his mum before the day was through.

c. colloquial. With reference to two or more people: having no prospect of any future relationship or dealings; no longer partners, friends, or associates. Esp. in we're through: used to inform someone that a relationship is over.

ΚΠ

1925 D. Belasco Girl of Golden West ii, in M. J. Moses Representative Amer. Dramas 84/2 Don't you ever speak to me again—we're through!

1939 I. Baird Waste Heritage ii. 23 Now when we get down to the hall we're through, see? I don't want nothin' more to do with you, I don't even know your name.

1988 C. Jerina Tropic Gold xxiv. 265 That had been the last straw. He'd told her straight out that they were through, finished, finito.

2009 J. Kellerman True Detectives xviii. 170 You jerk me around, we're through.

d. colloquial. Having no further prospects, use, or value; no longer popular or successful; ‘past it’.

ΚΠ

1934 W. Saroyan Daring Young Man 38 We're washed up as a race, we're through, it's all over.

1942 E. Paul Narrow Street xxxi. 281 An outsider not familiar with French politics might have thought that Daladier was through. Not at all. He got himself elected by the Popular Front..in April, 1938.

1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues xix. 173 It was only a few weeks before, people had been telling me I was through in the United States, that the public would never accept me.

1996 E. A. Proulx Accordion Crimes (1997) 414 They're washed up now, they're through.

Phrases

†P1. through all thing: in all respects; thoroughly. Obsolete. [In origin thing in this phrase shows an (unchanged) plural.

Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French par tut , Middle French, French partout (late 12th cent. in this sense: see passepartout n.).]

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > in respect of everything or part > in every respect

through all thingeOE

at all pointsa1375

from point to pointa1393

at all rightsc1405

in high and lowc1405

in generala1413

every incha1450

all in allc1475

at all sorts1612

all round1867

eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xxiii. 326 Þa funde he oðerne þurh eal þing him þone gelicestan [L. alium illi per omnia simillimum].

eOE Royal Psalter: Canticles xi. 27 Ita ut per omnia sicut iam supra dictum est et trinitas in unitate et unitas in trinitate ueneranda sit : swa þæt ðurh ealle þing [lOE Salisbury Psalter þurh eal þing] swa nu io bufan gecweden is & þrynes on annesse & annes on ðrynesse to arweorðgenne sy.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5470 Ich sugge þe þurh alle þing. ich sloh Asclepidiot.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1927 (MED) Charlis, þat is of fraunce kyng..Hoteþ þe þorw alle þyng to leuen þyn errour.

a1500 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Douce) l. 249 (MED) Þer fore þe barons wold Habbe loked, þrouȝ alle þyng, Þat þu, Fortiger, schalt be oure kyng.

a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 27 A man full quent, trew throw al thynge [a1525 Trin. Dublin trogh], bolde, and stydfaste of word.

P2. to be through with.

a. To have arranged matters with (someone); to have come to an agreement with. Cf. to be thorough with at thorough prep. and adv. Phrases 3. Obsolete (English regional in later use).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement with [verb (transitive)]

to be through with1484

1484 in J. P. Collier Househ. Bks. John Duke of Norfolk & Thomas Earl of Surrey (1844) 480 My Lord is throughe with his servaunt Robert Worsley, for certayn men..to be ready at all tymes at my Lordes wages.

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. ii. 39 If a man is through with them in honest taking vp, then they must stand vppon security.

1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale To be through with any one, to complete a bargain with him.

b. To have finished or completed; to have dealt with completely.

ΚΠ

1829 Afr. Repository & Colonial Jrnl. July 150 Since I am through with it [sc. the fever], I am glad I have had it, as it will exempt me entirely from it hereafter.

1844 N.Y. Munic. Gaz. 4 Apr. 345/3 After this expensive ceremony was through with, the Ashes were allowed to continue on the voyage to Boston.

1902 W. N. Harben Abner Daniel vii. 55 ‘I don't understand you.’ ‘Well, you will before I'm through with you.’

1962 I. Asimov Chemicals of Life (ed. 2) iv. 61 When both enzymes are through with their separate jobs, all that is left of the protein molecule are short amino-acid chains.

2014 C. B. McKenzie Bad Country 280 When Rodeo was done with his several cups of coffee and his dog was through with his morning constitutional, they drove to the..hospital.

c. To be tired of; to have had enough of.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored with [verb (transitive)]

irka1500

to be through with1895

have1941

1895 Musical Courier (N.Y.) 24 Aug. 14/3 Oh, as for women, you know, I am through with 'em.

1907 Everybody's Mag. Oct. 566/2 Pa..was through with the whole matter, and wanted to eat his supper in peace.

1913 Sat. Evening Post 18 Jan. 22/3 I'm through with her for good, I tell you!

1990 J. Eberts & T. Ilott My Indecision is Final lvi. 607 I was no good at building empires for people. I was through with empires.

2015 C. Black Murder on Champ de Mars 253 I'm through with being a pawn passed between the services.

P3.

a. through a person's hands (also †hand), through the hands of a person: so as to be handled or dealt with by the specified person. through many hands (and variants): via many people, via numerous intermediaries.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > by the instrumentality of [phrase] > specifically a person

through a person's hands (also hand)c1330

by the hand(s) of1639

c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 1035 Erst þow schelt pase þourȝ min hond.

1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. f. clxxxii/1 The money..paste throughe his handes and his treasourers.

1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 346 They are able in one day to make two hundred Harquibushes..although there be no Harquebush that goeth through lesse than ten hands at the least.

1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures iv. 8 The things of God..lose their value and force, when they are sifted through so many hands.

1709 J. Bagford in MS Rawl. Let. 21 lf. 8 All of them from y^e Bookes themselues which haue run throw my handes.

1778 A. Lee Let. 9 Jan. in R. H. Lee Life A. Lee (1829) II. 127 To call those to an account, through whose hands I know the public money has passed.

1862 G. Rawlinson Five Great Monarchies I. viii. 215 His numbers having suffered corruption during their passage through so many hands.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §6. 408 Plot and approval alike passed through Walsingham's hands.

1947 M. McLuhan Let. Dec. (1987) 191 Two books on popular culture are in process of circulation through editorial hands.

1970 A. K. Armah Fragments iv. 112 I've had six, maybe seven students pass through my hands who really had something.

2006 Vanity Fair July 95/1 It has emerged that the forged Niger documents went through the hands of the Italian military intelligence service.

b. Scottish. through hand (also hands): so as to be handled or dealt with; in process; in hand. Later esp. in to take through hand (also hands): = to take in hand at hand n. Phrases 2p(a).

ΚΠ

1763 in Trans. Highland & Agric. Soc. (1903) 14 92 He was using the Norfolk plough, and by means of it putting a great deal of work through hand.

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 345 I had her through hands once, and could then make little of her.

1854 Cottage Gardener 16 Mar. 457/1 The fast doers, who care not how the world goes round, provided they get every job through hand as fast as anything.

1875 Border Treasury 27 Feb. 353 A' her auld grievances were taen throo haunds, an' kiel-hauld to the utmost.

a1917 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick (1927) 22 Let iz ken whan ee've hed the maitter throwe hands.

1986 Glasgow Herald 3 Feb. 8/7 An important presbytery meeting at which Mr Chilton's case will be taken through hand.

2005 Recorded Conversat.: Family from North East Scotl. (SCOTS transcript) in www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Aw that kinda things have been taen through hand.

Compounds

through-the-lens adj. Photography designating focusing, light metering, etc., that uses the light passing through the lens of the camera (the same light that would form the image) rather than employing a separate viewfinder, metering window, or sensor.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > technical factors > [adjective] > light measurement

through-the-lens1947

T.T.L.1968

1947 Pop. Photogr. Feb. 197/1 Providing features previously found exclusively on 35 mm models, it offers rack-over for through-the-lens focusing.

1965 Focal Encycl. Photogr. (rev. ed.) I. 554/1 Through-the-lens exposure measurement has the advantage..that the meter cell receives light from exacly the same subject field as is taken in by the lens.

1984 What Video? Aug. 59/2 Fair picture, basic colour temperature controls, through-the-lens viewfinder.

2012 J. Wignall Digital Photogr. FAQs ii. 107 Through-the-Lens (TTL) metering is the way that virtually every digital camera measures light.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	through
释义	throughn.¹ Brit. /θruː/, U.S. /θru/, Scottish English /θru/, /θrux/, /θrʌx/ Forms: α. early Old English ðru- (inflected form), early Old English throuch, early Old English thruch, early Old English thruuch, early Old English ðrug (accusative, rare), Old English þreh (genitive, rare), Old English þrih (dative), Old English þruge (dative, rare), Old English þruþ (probably transmission error), Old English þryh (chiefly dative), Old English ðryh (dative), Old English–early Middle English þruh, Old English–early Middle English ðruh, late Old English þruwe (dative), Middle English prouȝes (plural, transmission error), Middle English throgh, Middle English þroh, Middle English throh, Middle English throghe, Middle English þrou, Middle English þrouȝ, Middle English throuȝ, Middle English throvȝ, Middle English þrought, Middle English þrouhwe, Middle English þrouwe, Middle English throw, Middle English throwe, Middle English þrowes (plural), Middle English þroyh (northern), Middle English þrugh (in late copy), Middle English thrughe, Middle English thrught, Middle English–1500s thrugh, 1500s threwgh, 1500s throwgh, 1500s– through, 1600s throughe, 1900s thrugh (Irish English (northern)); English regional (northern) 1800s throw, 1800s– thruff, 1900s thruf; Scottish pre-1700 throuche, pre-1700 throucht, pre-1700 throth, pre-1700 througe, pre-1700 throughe, pre-1700 throw, pre-1700 throwch, pre-1700 throwcht, pre-1700 throwgh, pre-1700 throwthe, pre-1700 1800s thrugh, pre-1700 1800s throcht, pre-1700 1800s– throch, pre-1700 1700s– throuch, pre-1700 1700s– through, pre-1700 1800s– thruch, 1700s throgh, 1800s threuch, 1800s throoch, 1800s– thruff (southern), 1900s– thruck; N.E.D. (1912) also records a form 1500s throgh(e. β. Old English ðurh (rare), early Middle English þurch, Middle English thorow, Middle English thoru, Middle English thorw, Middle English thurgh, Middle English thurwhe, Middle English thurwys (plural), Middle English thwrwe, 1500s thorgh, 1500s thorowgh, 1600s (1900s Scottish) thorough. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Icelandic þró trough (especially a trough of hollowed wood or stone), watering-trough, (also) chest, coffin (in compound steinþró; Icelandic þró cistern, sump, (formerly also) grave vault), Norwegian tro trough, wooden water conduit, and probably also with Old Saxon -thrūh (in halsthrūh shackle (for the neck of a prisoner; also as halsdrog); Middle Low German drū trap (for animals)), Old High German drūh, druoh chain, fetter, trap (Middle High German drūch, drūhe, drū; early modern German drauch, drauche trap, German regional (Rhineland) Drau); further etymology uncertain and disputed.Semantic development. Semantically, this etymology assumes that the Germanic base originally referred to cleft and hollowed-out wood, which was applied to wooden troughs and pipes on the one hand, and wooden shackles and traps on the other (compare e.g. the senses of stock n.¹). Perhaps compare also Old High German truha box, small chest (Middle High German truhe , truche , German Truhe ), which is close in sense, although the connection poses phonological problems. Further etymology. For the Germanic base, a connection with Latvian trauks vessel has often been suggested; the latter is often assumed to be from the same Baltic base as Lithuanian trūkti to tear apart, to burst, trūkis tear, fissure. The Germanic base of the noun has also been connected with Old Icelandic þrúga to press, on the assumption that the verb shows the operation of Verner's Law. However, connecting all of these with each other poses considerable semantic difficulties. Other alternatives have also been suggested. Form history. In Old English an athematic feminine consonant stem (compare book n., goose n., etc.) showing i-mutation of the stem vowel (caused by i of the lost inflectional ending) in the genitive and dative singular, although unmutated forms also occur by analogy. Beside the regular feminine forms, strong neuter and masculine forms are occasionally attested in Old English. The stem form with i-mutation is apparently not continued in Middle English. The Old English inflected stem form þrūg- apparently arises by analogy with nouns in -g with regular devoicing in word-final position in uninflected forms. In the β. forms apparently with metathesis of r , although in these forms, as also in the α. forms, the frequent influence of forms of through adv. (and thorough adv.) is also evident. Already in Middle English the word would have become identical in pronunciation with certain forms of through adv.; analogical levelling of other forms was no doubt aided by folk etymology (especially in sense 3 and in the compound through-stone n.¹). From Middle English onwards the word (in α. forms) is apparently also sometimes altered after trough n., which is unrelated, but with which the word shows both phonological and semantic similarity, and consequently it sometimes merges with the more frequent word; compare trough n. 4. Isolated reborrowing in Scots. Compare also Shetland Scots (rare) truen small wooden box for carrying bait (early 20th cent.), apparently showing an independent reborrowing < the unattested Norn cognate of the Scandinavian words listed above (with suffixed definite article). Now rare (Scottish and English regional (northern) after Middle English). †1. A pipe; a conduit or channel for water; (in extended use) a small valley shaped like a trough. Obsolete.In quot. eOE¹ in the compound waterthrough, translating classical Latin cataracta cataract n. ΚΠ eOE Épinal Gloss. (1974) 14 Caractis [probably read cataractis], uuaeterthruch [eOE Erfurt Gloss. uaeterthrouch, eOE Corpus Gloss. uuęterþruh]. eOE Épinal Gloss. (1974) 52 Tubo, thruuch [eOE Erfurt Gloss. thruch, eOE Corpus Gloss. ðruh]. OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 2 Sept. (2013) 174 Þa gesomnodon ða sticceo hi in þa þruh þurh þa ðe þæt wæter fleow. OE Bounds (Sawyer 60) in D. Hooke Worcs. Anglo-Saxon Charter-bounds (1990) 65 Of þam broce in þæt þruh. Of þam þrug' [probably read þruge] in holan weg. †2. A coffin, esp. one made of stone; a sarcophagus. Also: a tomb, a sepulchre; a grave. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > grave or burial-place > [noun] buriels854 througheOE burianOE graveOE lairc1000 lair-stowc1000 lich-restc1000 pitOE grass-bedOE buriness1175 earth housec1200 sepulchrec1200 tombc1300 lakec1320 buriala1325 monumenta1325 burying-place1382 resting placea1387 sepulturea1387 beda1400 earth-beda1400 longhousea1400 laystow1452 lying1480 delfa1500 worms' kitchen?a1500 bier1513 laystall1527 funeral?a1534 lay-bed1541 restall1557 cellarc1560 burying-grave1599 pit-hole1602 urn1607 cell1609 hearse1610 polyandrum1627 requietory1631 burial-place1633 mortuary1654 narrow cell1686 ground-sweat1699 sacred place1728 narrow house1792 plot1852 narrow bed1854 the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > receptacle for remains > [noun] > coffin chestc890 througheOE tombc1300 cofferc1381 kista1400 coffin1525 box1614 sandapile1623 wooden doublet1761 pillbox1789 casket1849 wooden surtout1864 pine overcoat1890 overcoat1904 wooden kimono1926 pine drape1945 wooden suit1968 eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xiv. 296 Þa heo þa ongunnon þone lichoman þær insettan, þa wæs se lichoma sponne lengra þære þryh [L. sarcofago]. OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xiv. 149 Þa geðafode Pilatus þæt hi hine besæton mid ymtrymmincge and ða ðruh geinnsegelodon. lOE tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 144 He com to þan twam Marian, þær þær hi gecerden fram þan þruwe, swa swa Matheus us sæigð. a1300 Passion our Lord 511 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 51 He hyne leyde in one þruh of stone. c1390 (c1350) Proprium Sanctorum in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1888) 81 85 On domus-day, Al vre þrouhwes þen schul ouerþrowe. a1400 Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 985/13* Our lord opend not his throgh when he ros at morne. c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. l. 15570 Now he is ded & lith In throw [rhyme now]. a1500 (c1400) St. Erkenwald (1977) l. 47 (MED) A ferly faire toumbe..was a throghe of thykke ston thryuandly hewen. β. OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Cambr.) iv. xiv. 296 Ða ðohton hi.., þæt hi oðre ðurh [eOE Tanner þruh] fundon.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 17390 Þan þai badd be-for ham call þat gett þe thoru þe knightes all.a1425 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 1900) (1879) VII. 535 On caas ȝe mowe kepe my body..lay hit in a thorow [c1400 Tiber. þrouȝ] of stoon and heleth hit with a lidde of lede.c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 4452 Graffis garnyscht of gold & gilten tombis, Thurghis to thrawyn in quen ȝe þraa worthe. 3. A large slab of stone laid over a tomb or grave; a horizontal gravestone; (also) a funeral monument consisting of a horizontal slab supported on columns; a table tomb; = through-stone n.¹ Sc. National Dict. (at Thruch) records this sense as still in use (in form thruff) in Peeblesshire in 1950.Now apparently usually in compound as through-stone n.¹ [Compare also through n.², which perhaps shows a development from this sense.] ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > grave or burial-place > [noun] > stone covering grave stone1303 gravestone1387 through-stonea1400 througha1425 burial-stone?a1500 trough1501 ledgerc1510 tombstone?1520 lair-stone1538 humeta1647 plank1660 ledger-stone1851 flatstone1855 grave-cover1875 hogback1889 a1425 (?c1375) N. Homily Legendary (Harl.) in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 16 Enterd he was in toumbe of stone And a marble-thrugh laid him opon. 1523 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 174 To lay oppon my body & Alicie my wif a conveniente thrughe of stone. 1560 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1875) III. 62 To reparrall the kirk, to lay the throwchis thairof of new and sparge the samyn. 1607–8 Will J. Bramhall of Pontefract (Reg. Ebor.) in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 87/2 [I] to be buried in the middle alley within the churche of Allhallowes in P.[ontefracte] under the greate blewe through, at the end of the Maior's & Aldresses' stall. 1630 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 185 Through the ignorance or negligence of the sexton or others,..the throughs and flaggs have been brooke, and once taken up never so well laid downe. 1777 Bothkennar Par. Reg. 8 July in Notes & Queries (1898) 9th Ser. 2 237/1 John Simpson, tenant in Crofthead, hath 2 lairs with throughs in the churchyard of Bothkennar. 1807 J. Stagg Misc. Poems (new ed.) 4 Then great Job Bruff gat on a thruff. 1874 Trans. Hawick Archaeol. Soc. 211/2 The next class of memorial stones are the Throughs. 1895 S. R. Crockett Bog-myrtle & Peat ii. ii. 190 A kirk is never quite commodious and cheery without monuments to read and ‘thruchs’ to sit upon and ‘ca' the crack’. 1935 Border Mag. Feb. 21 Its garland o' dilapidated thrucks and grey-stone boundary dyke. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † throughn.² Forms: pre-1700 thrauch, pre-1700 throch, pre-1700 throche, pre-1700 throcht, pre-1700 throgh, pre-1700 throuch, pre-1700 throuche, pre-1700 throucht, pre-1700 through, pre-1700 throughe, pre-1700 throught, pre-1700 throwche, pre-1700 throwcht, pre-1700 throwgh, pre-1700 thrugh, pre-1700 thrughe, pre-1700 troghe, pre-1700 trough, pre-1700 trowche. Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: through n.¹ Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps the same word as through n.¹ (compare sense 3 at that entry), from the resemblance in shape to a horizontal gravestone.Frequently with unchanged plural following a cardinal number (see e.g. quots. 1502, 1652), as is common with words denoting units of measurement (compare foot n. 6a, month n.¹ 3b, pound n.¹ 1, etc.). Scottish. Obsolete. A sheet of paper. Usually with of.In quot. 1572 in extended use with reference to a written or printed copy of a poem. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > paper > [noun] > sheet of writing paper1477 throughc1500 sheet1510 paper-table1605 sheetling1817 society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > [noun] > piece or sheet of paper throughc1500 foil1528 paper?1548 c1500 Regiam Majestatem (Harl. 4700) f. 227 Than sall the juge gar mak the rolment..& clos it within ane throuch of papir. 1502 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 343 For xxj thrugh of ymagery to be patrownis to the broudstar,..xxj s. 1546 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1908) VIII. 450 For xij throuchis of Lumbart paper to be patronis for chargeouris of gunnis,..ij s. 1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxiii. Ded. 5 To quhome can I this lytill throuch propyne, Bot vnto ane of excellent ingyne? 1618 in W. Cramond Rec. Elgin (1903) I. 237 For writin of half ane through of paper. 1652 in F. Roberts & I. M. M. Macphail Dumbarton Common Good Accts. (1972) 190 Item for ane loade of coalls and foir throughe of paper for the Tolbuith. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2020). throughn.³ Brit. /θruː/, U.S. /θru/ Forms: 1600s– through; English regional (north midlands and northern) 1700s– thruff /θrʌf/, 1900s– thruf; Scottish (southern) 1800s– thruff. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: through adv., through-stone n.² Etymology: < through adv. or through prep. In later use in sense 1a probably also short for through-stone n.² In sense 2 probably arising from folk-etymological reanalysis of thorough n.¹ 1. Perhaps compare also γ. forms at trough n. and sense 5 at that entry. 1. a. A stone or brick extending through the breadth of a wall (now esp. a drystone wall) to bind or strengthen it, and often projecting on either side; a bondstone; = through-stone n.² ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > disposition of stones or bricks > [noun] > specific stone or brick hirne-stonec1000 parpen1252 coin1350 coin-stone1350 angler1365 parpal1369 corner-stonea1382 cunye1387 tuss1412 quoin1532 table stone1554 quoining1562 copestone1567 ground-stone1567 lock bandc1582 quinyie1588 perpender1611 whelmer1618 parpen stone1633 capstone1665 headera1684 through1683 quoin-stone1688 stretcher1693 closer1700 bed-stone1723 coping-brick1725 girder1726 footstone1728 heading brick1731 bossage1736 lewis-hole1740 shoulder1744 headstone1745 pawl1753 tail-bond1776 coping-stone1778 slocking-stone1778 throughband1794 through-stone1797 stretching-bond1805 core1823 keystone1823 tail-binder1828 stretching-stone1833 header brick1841 coign1843 pawl-stone1844 bay-stone1845 bonder1845 pillar-stone1854 bond-piece1862 stretcher-brick1867 toothing-stone1875 bond-stone1879 pierpoint1891 jumper1904 tush1905 padstone1944 1683 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 13 239 These Bricks were to be as Throughs..and to bind the Two sides [of the wall] together firmly. 1706 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 25 2195 The brutish Workmen..had broke it [sc. a Monument] in the middle, and were going to make use of it for two Throughs, as they call them, in the Wall. 1797 J. Sutcliffe Rep. Line of Navigation Hexham to Haydon-Bridge 71 There should not be less than 12 throughs in every course round the pier. 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Thruff, a bond stone, or thorough stone. 1864 Murray's Handbk. Durham & Northumberland i. 67/2 The rude walls of loosely-piled gray stones are supported by layers of larger projecting ones called thruffs (throughs). 1892 J. T. Bent Ruined Cities Mashonaland iv. 97 Most of them [sc. the stones] run back into the wall irregularly, acting in the same way as throughs in our dry-built walls. 1938 W. B. McKay Building Constr. I. ii. 45/1 The throughs are staggered, and on an average two throughs per square yard of face are allowed. 1973 Times 6 Jan. 16/3 Without throughstones or ‘thruffs’, this mortared wall collapsed under torrential rain. 2014 T. Ciblac & J.-C. Morel Sustainable Masonry i. iv. 73 A sufficient number of ‘throughs’ should be placed from the first quarter to about half the height of the wall. †b. English regional (Northumberland). A ladder rung which projects beyond the upright supports on either side (see quot.). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > ladder > [noun] > rung or step stepc1000 gangOE stavec1175 tine?c1225 ladder stalea1250 degreec1290 rungc1300 staffc1325 stairc1400 ladder stavec1440 scalec1440 roundc1450 stakec1450 sprang1527 staver1534 rundle1565 rave1566 roundel1585 rondel1616 ladder rung1620 rowel1652 spokea1658 stower1674 stale1714 rim1788 tread1838 through1899 step iron1912 1899 Notes & Queries 9th Ser. 3 76/2 Ladders are often made with three or four flat bars, longer than the rounded ones, and projecting sufficiently on each side to admit a wooden peg, so that the whole may be kept compact and firm. These are called [in Northumberland] flat rungs, sometimes ‘throughs’ (thrufs). †2. English regional. An artificially cut or dug channel for water; a trench, a ditch; = thorough n.¹ 1. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > ditching or drainage > [noun] > ditch dikec893 gripa1000 ditch1045 fosselOE water-furrowlOE sow1316 furrowc1330 rick1332 sewer1402 gripplec1440 soughc1440 grindle1463 sheugh1513 syre1513 rain?1523 trench1523 slough1532 drain1552 fowsie?1553 thorougha1555 rean1591 potting1592 trink1592 syver1606 graft1644 work1649 by-ditch1650 water fence1651 master drain1652 rode1662 pudge1671 gripe1673 sulcus1676 rhine1698 rilling1725 mine1743 foot trench1765 through1777 trench drain1779 trenchlet1782 sunk fence1786 float1790 foot drain1795 tail-drain1805 flow-dike1812 groopa1825 holla1825 thorough drain1824 yawner1832 acequia madre1835 drove1844 leader1844 furrow-drain1858 1777 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 10 June (1778) Mixes it with the sand and marl, which is thrown out in making their elaborate thruffs,—or sub-drains. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). throughn.⁴ Brit. /θruː/, U.S. /θru/ Origin: Formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymon: English through coal. Etymology: Short for through coal at through adj. 7. Compare small n.² 10. Now rare. Chiefly in plural. Coal that has not been screened or sorted by size; through coal (through adj. 7).Cf. small n.² 10. ΚΠ 1908 Times 18 Dec. 17/5 Throughs sell from 9s. to 10s. 6d., and best washed nuts from 12s. to 12s. 6d. 1919 Brit. Manufacturer Nov. 33/2 The lesser qualities [of bituminous coal are quoted at]..53s. to 58s. for Throughs. 1922 Coal Trade Jrnl. 31 May 495/2 Smalls exported from Swansea yielded 2s. 10d. per ton more than in March, and large 3d. more, but the price of through was decreased to the extent of 1s. 8d. 1939 Times 21 July 24/6 The Portuguese railways..were asking for offers for the supply of..233,000 tons of small coal or 212,000 tons of throughs for delivery over 12 months. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). throughadj. Brit. /θruː/, U.S. /θru/ Forms: see through prep. and adv. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: through adv. Etymology: < through adv. Compare thorough adj.In branch I. not distinctly separable from through- prefix 3 except when (as rarely) in predicative use. Examples have been placed at this entry when it seems less likely that the collocation of two words shows an established compound. Chiefly attributive. I. That goes through, and related senses. †1. That has an opening, traversable. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ c1450 (?c1425) St. Christina in Anglia (1885) 8 124 (MED) Þen..she was closed and stoken in þe celer, she toke a stoon of þe celare-flore &..made the walle þurgh [L. murum pervium fecit], and as an arowe..hir spirit..wiþ þe selfe body of verrey fleshe..flowe forþ as a bridde in þe eyre. 2. a. Of traffic, travel, travellers, etc.: going all the way or directly between two places; (also) going through a place. Cf. through traffic n. ΚΠ 1828 Aurora & Pennsylvania Gaz. 20 Aug. I am informed by Washington Jackson, and others, who were through passengers the last trip, that the meals furnished on the Chesapeake were bad. 1861 Joint Ann. Rep. Bellefontaine Raid Road Line for 1860 7 A portion of this [increase in revenue] came from increased through travel. 1893 Earl of Dunmore Pamirs I. 83 A few merchants carry on a through trade between India and Turkestan. 1905 Sat. Rev. 21 Oct. 522/2 What with the through travellers and the..traffic, there was no lack of variety. 1977 Mod. Railways Dec. 463/3 Through freight traffic can be a problem too. 2008 Daily Tel. 18 Feb. 15/1 Serbia's response..could cut electricity and water to Kosovo and refuse through-travel for Kosovo's citizens. b. Of a train or other public transport vehicle: that goes the whole length of a route so that transfers are not required; direct. Also: of or relating to such a vehicle. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [adjective] > of or relating to whole of journey through1840 1840 F. Whishaw Railways Great Brit. & Ireland 348 At the present time (November 1840) there are altogether five through-trains daily. 1891 S. J. Weyman New Rector I. iii. 28 Oh, dear, they are in a through carriage... I would rather go in another carriage and change. 1911 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 2 Apr. 2/4 A man travelling westward on a through express [etc.]. 1988 Washington Post 9 Oct. e3/2 I journeyed from Buenos Aires in Argentina to..Asunción and on to Sao Paulo... There was no through-bus. 2003 Weekend Financial Times 11 Oct. (Property section) 8/1 Woodbridge..now has one through train a day into Liverpool Street (previously you had to change at Ipswich). c. Of a ticket, reservation, etc.: valid for or covering the whole of a journey including transfers or connections, esp. between different transport networks. ΚΠ 1841 Pennsylvania Inquirer & Daily Courier 25 Jan. For further information and Through Tickets, apply at [etc.]. 1853 North Amer. & U.S. Gaz. (Philadelphia) 2 May The most satisfactory arrangements have been concluded between the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad Company and the Cleveland and Columbus Company, for through ticketing, and the interchange of passengers at Crestline. 1869 Bradshaw's Railway Man. 21 43 Through-booking arrangements with the Scottish North Eastern. 1949 N.Y. Times 27 Mar. 21/2 Cooperation between the little line and the big ones in such things as through-ticketing and reservations would increase its business about 30 per cent. 1961 Financial Times 23 Feb. 8/2 The company has also cut the return through-fare of its service from the centre of London to the centre of Paris..to £10 10s. including coach. 1992 Washington Post (Nexis) 16 Feb. e1 They will begin to offer through baggage service. 2015 Independent (Nexis) 15 Sept. 23 Passengers on network carriers such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic who buy through tickets, for example Edinburgh-Heathrow-New York, are fully protected. d. Of a route, road, etc.: that allows continuous or unrestricted passage through; going all the way; direct.Compare earlier compounds with through- prefix in similar use: see throughgang n., throughgate n., through-passage n., throughway n., and α. forms at thoroughfare n. See also through road n. ΚΠ 1844 Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 7 Sept. 6/3 The Sheffield and Manchester [railway company]..have secured themselves..a through route to Liverpool. 1900 Evening Times (Cumberland, Maryland) 18 Apr. There is a good stable, and a rear entrance opening on a through alley. 1967 Daily Tel. 15 Mar. 14/4 After several years' delay Spain's first autopista, or through motorway, linking Barcelona to the French frontier is to be built. 2004 USA Today (Nexis) 23 Aug. 9 d New road rules..have some bus and cab drivers circling cluelessly or hitting dead ends where there once were through streets. 3. gen. That goes, passes, or extends (all the way) through something.Compare earlier compounds with through- prefix in similar use: see e.g. through-lock n. at through- prefix 3, through-work n. at through- prefix 3, throughe serewe at thorough-serewe n. α. forms. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [adjective] > through through1836 the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [adjective] > progressing or going through thorough?a1425 through1836 1836 Trans. Inst. Civil Engineers 1 12 The walls are of brick with a Bramley-fall stone coping, a through course 14 feet from the bottom. 1865 Once a Week 10 June 679/1 Building houses back to back without any ‘through’ ventilation. 1873 Mem. Geol. Surv. India 10 App. 169 Much ingenuity must have been exerted to obtain a through fracture across the bedding of a rock. 1913 Construction Oct. 395/2 The arrangement of the lavatory and cloaks lobby..block what would otherwise be a through corridor from the main hall. 1979 Homes & Gardens June 106/4 The large salon has two vast glass walls..giving a through view. 2012 E. Wilhide Ashenden (2013) xiv. 288 The doors were open front to back, letting in a through breeze. 4. Music. Of an organ stop: extending through the whole range of the keyboard, from the lowest note to the highest. Now historical and rare. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > organ > [adjective] > types of pipes or stops stopped1595 open1636 labial1837 borrowed1840 through1853 stopless1899 derived- 1853 Manch. Courier 31 Dec. 627/5 The organ..does not contain a single double diapason, the number of stops being eight through stops and two half stops in the great organ. 1880 C. A. Edwards Organs ii. xx. 146 All the foundation..stops of a really good organ should be through stops. 1983 J. Boeringer Organa Britannica I. iv. 55 Sometimes the Bassoon merely provided the bass for some other reed..; sometimes the stop was ‘through’. 5. a. Of a bolt, rivet, etc.: passing through the whole thickness of that in which it is fixed.Compare earlier compounds with through- prefix in similar use: see through-key n., through-tang n. at through- prefix 3, through-bolt n. ΚΠ 1889 J. J. Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. iv. 74 The rivets are of two kinds, through (or clenched) and tap. 1907 Laying out for Boiler Makers iv. 79/1 A, B, and C are through rivets, which hold the inside sheet close to the corner. 1983 P. O. Nielsen in G. L. Schneberger Adhesives in Manufacturing v. 88 The need to drill holes to allow for the passage of through fasteners. 2007 S. D. Hughes Double Guns & Custom Gunsmithing iii. 66/1 In the rear, a through-screw threads into the opposite lockplate. b. Woodworking. Of a joint, groove, etc.: that extends all the way through the workpiece and is visible on either side. Opposed to stopped adj. 9.Compare earlier compounds with through- prefix in similar use: see through-joint n., through-mortise n. at through- prefix 3. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > constructing or working with wood > [adjective] > through or stopped (of chamfer or housing) stopped1918 through1934 1934 P. A. Wells Design in Woodwork ii. 15 The number of joints can be trebled by variations such as ‘through’, ‘stopped’ or ‘secret’ dovetails. 1979 A. B. Emary Woodworking iii. 18 (caption) Through housing. 2009 Pop. Mech. Compl. Home How-to (rev. ed.) 474/2 A through dado can be seen from both sides of the structure, whereas a stopped dado is not visible from the front. II. Thorough, complete, comprehensive. 6. Applied to or affecting every part or detail; complete, comprehensive; = thorough adj. 2. Also: that is fully the kind of person indicated by the noun; = thorough adj. 3b. Now rare.Some later examples may be typographical errors for thorough. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adjective] > complete or thorough through1458 thorough1566 intimea1618 radical1648 radicative1657 full-scale1939 the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adjective] > that is completely what is specified > specifically of a person thorough1625 double-dyed1667 through1697 thoroughgoing1719 full-blooded1784 1458 W. Worcester in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 533 All toke to a gode pease, and reconysaunces made..yn the meene tyme to make a throw pease fynall by meene of all the lordes. a1500 in C. T. Martin Chancery Proc. 15th Cent. in Archaeologia (1904) 59 6 He wolle make a thurgh ende with the said Piers Hous and pay hym .xx. marcs. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 80 That thei might..haue a through sight in it. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. G2^v From a through beholding the worthines of the subiect. 1607 S. Hieron Wise Mans Verdict in Wks. (1620) I. 462 To speake of a true and through reformation. 1697 J. Vanbrugh Relapse Epil. 106 You never saw A through Republican a finisht Beau. 1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes ii. 69 If on through search and examination they were approved of. a1723 R. Claridge Tractatus Hierographicus (1724) ii. 40 The only Means for Men to come to a through-Sight of their wretched, sinful State. 1895 Postal Rec. June 125/1 True to his inherited instincts and early training, Mr. Martin is a through Democrat. 1905 N. P. Langford Diary Washburn Exped. Introd. p. x Making a through examination of all the wonders with which the region was said to abound. 2006 H. Petroski Success through Failure vii. 188 After a more through study of the failure, a government-appointed team found the overall design process to be at fault. 7. Designating coal that has not been sifted or screened, and therefore consists of large and small pieces mixed indiscriminately; = through and through adj. 1b. Now rare.Quot. 1848 shows all through as a modifier in the same sense. ΚΠ 1848 Morning Post 19 July 3/4 The cost of raising the ‘hand picked’ coal is 8s. 8d. per ton, and the selling price 10s...; of ‘all through’ coal 1s., selling price 6s. 9d. per ton.] 1871 Western Mail (Cardiff) 22 Sept. 3/4 Coal (Red Ash bituminous through coal) at 10s. 6d. per ton. 1897 Trans. Federated Inst. Mining Engineers 12 247 The quantity of large or through coal dumped into the breakers over the initial screens. 1901 Economist 6 Apr. 532/1 Bituminous coals—large (No. 3 Rhondda)13s to 13s 3d; thro' coals, 9s 6d to 10s 6d. 1939 Times 26 May 27/1 They have bought about 25,000 tons of Welsh through coal for bunkering purposes. 1948 Fuel & Future: Proc. Conf. Fuel Efficiency Comm. 1946 II. 138 The South Wales unsized ‘through’ coals have an efficient gasification rate of about 20 to 25 lb./sq. ft./hour. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). throughv. Brit. /θruː/, U.S. /θru/, Scottish English /θru/ Forms: α. late Middle English–1500s (1600s–1700s Scottish) thorow, 1700s thorough (Scottish). β. Chiefly Scottish pre-1700 throyit (past participle), pre-1700 1700s– through, pre-1700 1800s– thruch (now chiefly Dumfriesshire). Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: thorough prep.; thorough adv.; through prep.; through adv. Etymology: In α. forms < thorough prep. and thorough adv.; in β. forms < through prep. and through adv. †1. transitive. To convey or transmit (information) by means of an intermediary. Cf. mediate v. 3a. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ a1474 J. Botwright Let. in R. Masters Hist. Coll. Corpus Christi (1753) App. 30 Unto the first article we answer thus, after the wisest mason, maister of the werkes, wyth many worthie men, howbeit he may not attende in his propir persone, whos sentens thorowed we wryte to your Providence in parcell. 2. Scottish. †a. transitive. To put into effect, bring about, carry through. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > carrying out > execute, perform, or carry out [verb (transitive)] lasteOE ylastc888 wieldeOE doeOE dreeOE forthOE fremeOE workOE affordOE full-bringc1175 fulfila1225 perfurnisha1325 complishc1374 performc1384 achievea1393 chevisea1400 practic?a1425 exploitc1425 execute1477 furnish1477 through1498 practa1513 enure1549 chare1570 enact1597 act1602 to carry out1608 outcarry1611 celebrate1615 complya1616 peract1621 tide1631 implement1837 1498 in W. Fraser Memorials Montgomeries (1859) II. 53 The kyngis rycht of the balȝery of Cunynggem beand obtenit and throyit at the kyngis hand, to be gewin to Hew Lord of Mungumbre. 1644 R. Baillie Let. 25 Oct. (1841) II. 232 In the Assemblie, thanks to God, we have throughed not only our Presbytries, but also our Synods provinciall and nationall. 1677 J. Brown Christ the Way xiv. 239 The carrying on of Truth in the earth, and throughing his cause and work. 1693 in J. Grant Seafield Corr. (1912) 123 The comissarie is to use his indeavors in the severall shyres wher the troups lyes to gett the gentlemen to condiscend to a voluntar localetie. This is already done in Merns, and I beleiv will be thorowed in the shyre of Aberdeen. 1716 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 172 I am mistaken if this way they get their design throughed. 1720 A. Irvine Let. 17 Mar. in Memorial for A. Irvine (1769) 14 It would not have been any difficulty to have got matters throughed in a very little time. 1751 in Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1915) 368 To use their interest to thorow the bill into a law. b. intransitive. To make progress; to prosper, be successful. Also transitive: to get through or accomplish (a task, etc.). †to make (something) to through: to substantiate, make good (a claim or statement) (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > prosper or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > prosper or be successful speed993 achievec1300 provec1300 edifya1400 chevise14.. exploit1477 cottonc1560 fadge1611 through1675 to make the riffle1853 arrive1889 the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] i-sothea925 soothec950 fanda1000 kitheOE betell1048 showc1175 prove?c1225 treousec1275 stablisha1325 approve1340 verifyc1386 justifya1393 tryc1412 answer?a1425 appreve?c1450 to make gooda1470 convictc1475 averifyc1503 arguea1513 find1512 pree1515 comprobate1531 demonstrate1538 conclude1549 convince1555 argument1558 evict1571 avoucha1593 evidencea1601 remonstrate1601 clear1605 attaint1609 monstrate1609 evince1610 evince1611 improve1613 remonstrance1621 to make out1653 ascertain1670 to bring off1674 to make (something) to through1675 render1678 substantiatea1691 establisha1704 to bring out1727 realize1763 validate1775 1675 J. Frazer in W. K. Tweedie Sel. Biogr. (1847) II. 255 I grow not, nor come not speed; nor am I throughing in my work, but ever after one manner. a1699 J. Fraser Memoirs (1738) vii. 216 That I do not grow or go forward generally in the Ways of God, nor yet get a particular Work and Exercise throughed [1776 ed. 2 thoroughed]. 1787 R. Burns Poems (new ed.) 79 Faith ye've said enough, And muckle mair than ye can mak to through. 1863 J. Hamilton Poems & Ess. 56 We've throught weel and thrivin this mony a year. 1960 in Sc. National Dict. (1974) IX. 314/2 [Dumfriesshire] An auld body canna thruch as well as a young ane. 1988 G. Lamb Orkney Wordbk. Through, to get through (some business). 3. transitive. To pass or go through; to pierce, penetrate. rare.Cf. through prep. 5. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > making holes or becoming holed > make (an opening or hole) [verb (transitive)] > make an opening or hole in or into > bore, pierce, or perforate > with something sharp-pointed > pierce or penetrate as a sharp thing biteOE delve?c1225 attamec1314 piercec1325 thrillc1330 ficche1388 traverse1477 through1578 splinter1821 stab1897 1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 31^v The superiour [part], is thorowed on ech side, with a large & ample hole. 1888 C. Mackay Dict. Lowland Sc. 238/1 The verb to through, or thruch, to penetrate, to go through. 2013 B. Mathew Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage (ed. 8) 76 This temple is always throughed by devotees coming from different parts of the country. Derivatives † ˈthroughing n. Scottish Obsolete the action of putting something into effect or carrying something through. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > continuing > following up, through, or prosecution > [noun] suinga1325 prosecution1545 conveyance1572 through-handlinga1586 carriage1589 pursuita1631 throughing1638 pursuance1642 persecution1647 transaction1655 pursual1878 follow-up1904 follow-through1918 1638 R. Baillie Let. 22 July (1841) I. 74 His Father's throughing of Perth articles. a1667 J. Fergusson Brief Expos. Epist. Paul to Thessalonians (1674) (2 Thess. ii. 3) 336 Satan..prompteth them with variety of wayes and means for throughing of their work. 1687 in R. Brown Hist. Paisley (1886) I. 294 To..employ advocates, clerks, and agents for throughing of the said bill. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). throughprep.adv. Brit. /θruː/, U.S. /θru/ Forms: α. (a) early Old English dorh, early Old English ðerih (Northumbrian), Old English ðærh (Northumbrian), Old English ðerh (Northumbrian), Old English ðorh, Old English ðurch, Old English þyrh (rare), Old English–early Middle English durh (rare), Old English–early Middle English ðurg, Old English–early Middle English ðurh, Old English (rare)–Middle English þorch, Old English–Middle English þorh, Old English (rare)–Middle English þurch, Old English–Middle English þurg, Old English–Middle English þurh, late Old English–Middle English þur, early Middle English durȝ, early Middle English ðhurg, early Middle English ðurȝ, early Middle English ðurge, early Middle English ðhurge, early Middle English ðvrg, early Middle English torch, early Middle English turh, early Middle English yor, early Middle English yure, early Middle English zurhc, early Middle English þyr (in compounds), Middle English dourȝh, Middle English durghe, Middle English ȝorgh, Middle English ȝour, Middle English ȝowr, Middle English ȝurch, Middle English ȝwrh, Middle English þarȝ, Middle English thogh (transmission error), Middle English þor, Middle English thorch, Middle English þore, Middle English thore, Middle English þorg, Middle English thorg, Middle English þorgh, Middle English thorgh, Middle English þorghe, Middle English thorghe, Middle English þorghȝ, Middle English þorgȝ, Middle English þorguh, Middle English þorȝ, Middle English thorȝ, Middle English þorȝe, Middle English thorȝe, Middle English þorȝh, Middle English thorȝh, Middle English þorȝhȝ, Middle English thorȝoh, Middle English thorh, Middle English thorhe, Middle English þough (transmission error), Middle English þouȝ (transmission error), Middle English þouȝr (transmission error), Middle English þouh (transmission error), Middle English þour, Middle English thour, Middle English thoure, Middle English þourg, Middle English þourgȝ, Middle English þourgh, Middle English thourgh, Middle English thourghe, Middle English þourȝ, Middle English thourȝ, Middle English þourȝe, Middle English thourȝe, Middle English þourȝh, Middle English þourh, Middle English thourh, Middle English thourhe, Middle English thourr, Middle English þouurȝe, Middle English þowr, Middle English thowr, Middle English þowre, Middle English thowrgh, Middle English thowur, Middle English thur, Middle English thurc, Middle English thurch, Middle English thurg, Middle English thurge, Middle English thurgeh, Middle English þurgȝh, Middle English þurgh, Middle English þurghe, Middle English thurghe, Middle English þurghȝ, Middle English þurȝ, Middle English thurȝ, Middle English þhurȝ, Middle English þurȝe, Middle English thurȝe, Middle English þurȝg, Middle English þurȝgh, Middle English þurȝh, Middle English thurȝh, Middle English þurȝhg, Middle English thurȝhg, Middle English thurh, Middle English þurhc, Middle English þurhe, Middle English thurhe, Middle English þurhg, Middle English thurhge, Middle English thurhgh, Middle English thurke, Middle English þurrh ( Ormulum), Middle English þwrgh, Middle English thwrgh, Middle English torgh, Middle English torghe, Middle English yhorh, Middle English yhurgh, Middle English yorch, Middle English yorgh, Middle English yorghe, Middle English yorȝ, Middle English yorh, Middle English your, Middle English yourch, Middle English yourgh, Middle English yourghe, Middle English yourȝ, Middle English yourh, Middle English yowr, Middle English yurch, Middle English yurg, Middle English yurgh, Middle English yurghe, Middle English yurȝ, Middle English yurȝe, Middle English yurh, Middle English yurhg, Middle English–1500s thurgh; Scottish pre-1700 thourch; (b) late Old English–Middle English þurþ, Middle English þorght, Middle English thorght, Middle English thorgth, Middle English þorȝt, Middle English thorȝt, Middle English thorht, Middle English dorþ, Middle English þorþ, Middle English þorð, Middle English þorth, Middle English thorth, Middle English thorthe, Middle English þourght, Middle English thourght, Middle English þourȝt, Middle English þourt, Middle English þourþ, Middle English þourth, Middle English thourth, Middle English thuht (transmission error), Middle English þurd, Middle English thurd, Middle English þurght, Middle English thurght, Middle English thurghte, Middle English thurgth, Middle English þurȝt, Middle English thurȝt, Middle English þurȝth, Middle English thurȝth, Middle English þurht, Middle English þurs, Middle English þurt, Middle English thurt, Middle English þurð, Middle English þurth, Middle English þurthe, Middle English þhurth, Middle English thurth, Middle English thurthe, Middle English þurðh, Middle English turght, Middle English yhurght, Middle English yurght, Middle English yurht, Middle English yurth, Middle English yurthe. eOE Épinal Gloss. (1974) 40 Per seudoterum, þorh ludgaet... Per anticipationem, þorch [eOE Erfurt Gloss. dorh] obust.OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark xv. 10 Sciebat enim quod per inuidiam tradidissent eum summi sacerdotes : wiste forðon þætte þæt ðerh æfist [OE Rushw. Gospels ðærh æfeste] gesaldon uel sealla waldon hine hehsacerdas.OE Cynewulf Fates of Apostles 13 Sune on Romebyrig, frame, fyrdhwate, feorh ofgefon þurg Nerones nearwe searwe, Petrus ond Paulus.OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) i. ix. 42 Seo hergung wæs þurh Alaricum Gotena cyning geworden.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13254 Ȝa þurrh fulluhht. ȝa þurrh hannd gang. Att hadedd manness hande.?c1250 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Egerton) 282 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 177 Þe suneȝe þurð sihte.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 681 Leir..regnede þritti ȝer wel þor [?a1425 Digby þurgh, c1425 Harl. þoru, a1450 London Univ. þrough, c1450 Cambr. Univ. thorugh] alle þinge.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4219 Þourh ȝour help.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11070 All þe cunthre thurght.c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xxi. l. 399 So þat þorgh gyle was geten þorwe grace is now y-wonne.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 310 Þurȝ ryalmes so mony.c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 157 Eterne god that thurgh [v.rr. thour, þurgh, þourgh, þoruhe] thy purueiance Ledest the world.a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 392 Þourȝ Samarie and þe cuntre of Galile.a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 522 Thourth the emperours commandement.c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) l. 1021 Þe lady rod dorþ Cardeuyle.1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope v. viii. f. lxxxiiij The serpent..slewe the child thurgh his venym.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 32 He hadde resceyved deth thourgh me.?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. A.iiij To condith that people thurgh y^e deserte. β. (a) Old English (rare)–Middle English þruh, Middle English drogh (in a late copy), Middle English drowgȝ, Middle English þouȝȝ (transmission error), Middle English thouh (transmission error), Middle English þrogh, Middle English þroghe, Middle English þroȝ, Middle English throȝ, Middle English þroȝe, Middle English throȝe, Middle English þroȝgh, Middle English throȝgh, Middle English throȝghe, Middle English þroȝh, Middle English throȝh, Middle English throȝhe, Middle English throighe, Middle English throug, Middle English þrough, Middle English þroughe, Middle English þrouȝ, Middle English throuȝ, Middle English þrouȝe, Middle English throuȝe, Middle English þrouȝh, Middle English þrouh, Middle English throuh, Middle English þrouhe, Middle English throuhe, Middle English throwg, Middle English þrowgh, Middle English þrowghe, Middle English þrowȝ, Middle English throwȝ, Middle English þrowȝe, Middle English throwȝe, Middle English þrowh, Middle English throwh, Middle English throwr, Middle English þrugh, Middle English þruȝ, Middle English thruȝ, Middle English þruȝe, Middle English thruȝe, Middle English thruȝhe, Middle English thrwgh, Middle English thrwghe (in a late copy), Middle English thrygh, Middle English trghug, Middle English trogh, Middle English trowgh, Middle English trowghe, Middle English trowh, Middle English trugh, Middle English trughe, Middle English yrogh, Middle English yrowȝ, Middle English yrugh, Middle English yruȝ, Middle English–1500s throghe, Middle English–1500s thrug, Middle English–1500s thrugh, Middle English–1500s thrughe, Middle English–1500s thruh, Middle English–1600s throgh, Middle English–1600s throughe, Middle English–1600s throwgh, Middle English–1500s throwghe, Middle English– 1500s trough, Middle English– through, 1500s throhe; English regional 1800s threugh (Yorkshire), 1900s throwgh (Yorkshire), 1900s t'rough (Norfolk); U.S. regional (chiefly south Midland and southern) 1800s–1900s though, 1900s frough (in African-American usage), 1900s th'ough; Scottish pre-1700 threwch, pre-1700 throche, pre-1700 throchge, pre-1700 throg, pre-1700 throgh, pre-1700 throghe, pre-1700 throiche, pre-1700 throuche, pre-1700 throug, pre-1700 throughe, pre-1700 throwch, pre-1700 throwche, pre-1700 throwghe, pre-1700 thruch, pre-1700 thruche, pre-1700 thrugh, pre-1700 thrwch, pre-1700 troch, pre-1700 trouch, pre-1700 truch, pre-1700 truche, pre-1700 1700s throwgh, pre-1700 1700s–1800s throuch, pre-1700 1700s– throch, pre-1700 1700s– through, 1800s th'rough, 1800s trough (Shetland); also Irish English 1800s draugh (Wexford), 1800s trugh (Wexford), 1900s– throch (northern); (b) Middle English þouȝt (transmission error), Middle English thout (transmission error), Middle English thrawth, Middle English throghet, Middle English throght, Middle English throghte, Middle English þroȝt, Middle English throȝt, Middle English þroȝth, Middle English þroth, Middle English throth, Middle English þrought, Middle English þroughte, Middle English throuȝht, Middle English þrouȝt, Middle English þrouȝte, Middle English þrouȝth, Middle English þrouht, Middle English throwght, Middle English throwghte, Middle English þrowþ, Middle English throwth, Middle English thrughte, Middle English thruth, Middle English thrwght, Middle English troght, Middle English trowght, Middle English trught, Middle English trughte, Middle English–1500s thrught, Middle English–1500s thruȝht, Middle English–1600s throught, 1500s throwthe; Scottish pre-1700 throcht, pre-1700 throicht, pre-1700 throucht, pre-1700 throught, pre-1700 throuthe, pre-1700 throwcht, pre-1700 throwght, pre-1700 thrucht, pre-1700 thrught, pre-1700 thruth, pre-1700 thrutht, pre-1700 thrwcht, pre-1700 trocht, pre-1700 troithe. OE Hymns (Vesp. D.xii) xxxv. 4 in H. Gneuss Hymnar u. Hymnen im englischen Mittelalter (1968) 303 Eius mortem sequuntur et vestigia per crucem : hys deað hy folgodon & fotswaþa þruh rode.?c1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 111 Bote þu, þruh þin milde mod, bringe me out of sunne.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 459 Mi wicked eyiȝen..lad myn hert þrouȝ loking þis langour to drye.c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 2526 He..hade pardon Throgh prayere and specialle grace.1487–8 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 141 On euery sonday throwȝe þe yer.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) viii. l. 709 Throcht falsheid and thar subtilite.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 137 Throuch thar aller hale assent.c1500 Sir Corneus in M. M. Furrow Ten 15th-cent. Comic Poems (1985) 283 For þis was thruȝht a chans. ▸ ?a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 125 Leif creuelte..Or throucht the warld quyte losit is ȝour name.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 18 The gret peril that myght be-fall hym..drogh the owt-comen folk þat was thus in-to the land I-com.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 26 Trogh al thynge.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 28 That thou ne hast y-dene troght some grete lette.c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 19^v Thrugh lemys of light.1545–7 in Archaeologia 34 41 Throwgh the weke.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 32 In wintir quhen thay ar throuch fatt.1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 193 An extreame cold winde passed throgh his sides.1668 T. Allin Jrnl. 26 Jan. (1940) (modernized text) II. 5 The pilot assuring us our passage through [MS throught], we got clear and came to anchor.1724 A. Ramsay Vision in Ever Green I. i Throch feidom, our freedom Is blotit with this skore.1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 47 And gars them cauldrife nod Throuch poortith's glen.1864 B. Preston Poems 14 Then smackt his brah as if he'd felt A ball go threugh his brain.1902 M. E. Mann Fields Dulditch 51 He had caught a ‘chronic cold’..‘t'rough slapin' wi' th' windy open’.2005 M. Rodger Borth'ick Waitter (SCOTS) It's ma ettle throch this airticle, tae spell the names o baith fock an places, is naur is A kan tae hou ma paurents..wur wont tae pronoonce thum. γ. Chiefly south-western Middle English thowffe (transmission error), Middle English thorf, Middle English thorffe, Middle English trowffe, Middle English þowrfe, Middle English þurf, Middle English–1500s thurf; English regional (north midlands and northern) 1700s– thruff, 1800s threff, 1800s thrif, 1800s thrift, 1800s throf, 1800s throwf, 1800s thruf, 1800s thruft, 1800s thruof, 1900s throof, 1900s throoff, 1900s truff, 1900s– thriff. c1300 St. Michael (Harl.) in T. Wright Pop. Treat. Sci. (1841) 132 Thurf dai and thurf niȝt.c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) 149 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 223 Þurf oure louerdes grace.c1485 (?a1400) Child Bristow l. 520 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 321 Thurf youre good he is saue.a1800 S. Pegge Suppl. Grose's Provinc. Gloss. (1814) Thruff and thruff, i.e. through and through. Derb.1864 Ld. Tennyson Northern Farmer: Old Style xi, in Enoch Arden, etc. 133 I..runn'd plow thruff it an' all.1888 G. M. Fenn Dick o' the Fens 153 Go thruff yon reed-bed home.1904 J. H. Brown in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1905) VI. 117/2 [Nottinghamshire] I druv him thruff the ford.1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincs. Dial. Dict. 267/2 An mek sewer yer git yon bars thruff yon shottles proper. δ. Middle English dorw, Middle English dorwe, Middle English dorwgh, Middle English durwe, Middle English ȝorw, Middle English thorew, Middle English thorewe, Middle English thorghw, Middle English thorghwe, Middle English thorȝw, Middle English thorȝwe, Middle English thorw, Middle English thorwe, Middle English thorwg, Middle English thorwgh, Middle English thorwȝ, Middle English thorwȝe, Middle English thorwh, Middle English thorwhe, Middle English thourw, Middle English thurgwe, Middle English thurw, Middle English thurwe, Middle English thwrw, Middle English torw, Middle English torwe, Middle English twrw, Middle English þerwe, Middle English þorgwe, Middle English þorw, Middle English þorwe, Middle English þorwg, Middle English þorwgȝ, Middle English þorwgh, Middle English þorwȝ, Middle English þorwȝe, Middle English þorwh, Middle English þorwhe, Middle English þourȝw, Middle English þourw, Middle English þourwe, Middle English þourwȝ, Middle English thourwȝ, Middle English þurw, Middle English þurwe, Middle English þurwȝ, Middle English thurwȝ, Middle English þurwh (in copy of Old English charter), Middle English yorw, Middle English yorwe, Middle English yorwȝ, Middle English yourw, Middle English yowrw, Middle English yurw, Middle English yurwh, Middle English zhorw, Middle English zorw, Middle English zowrw. c1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 83 Hise wundes sore and smerte stungen þureu and þurw þi herte.c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1926 Charlis, þat is of fraunce kyng..Hoteþ þe þorw alle þyng to leuen þyn errour.1389 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 53 To hem þat falle pouere þurwȝ auenture of godes sonde.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ix. l. 151 Þus þourw cursed caym cam care vppon erthe.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. l. 300 Þorw þe pas of altoun Pouerte myȝte passe with-oute peril of robbynge.c1450 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (BL Add. 36983) p. 1646 Þorwe [Vesp. thoru, Fairf. þorou, Trin. Cambr. þourȝe] þe toun.a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 28 He bad ham well þorwe that thay sholden yn al manere senden after more of har kyn. ε. Middle English thow (transmission error), Middle English thowe (transmission error), Middle English thrawe, Middle English threw, Middle English threwe, Middle English þro, Middle English throow, Middle English þrou, Middle English throue, Middle English þrow, Middle English throve, Middle English þrowe, Middle English thrue, Middle English thrvoo, Middle English thrw, Middle English thrwe, Middle English trow, Middle English trowe, Middle English yhrow, Middle English yrou, Middle English yrow, Middle English yru, Middle English–1500s throwe, Middle English–1700s throw, Middle English–1600s (1700s North American) (1900s– nonstandard) throu, Middle English– thro (now chiefly informal), Middle English– thru (now chiefly U.S.), 1500s– thro' (now chiefly informal), 1600s throoe, 1600s–1700s throu', 1600s– thru' (now chiefly U.S.); English regional (chiefly northern) 1800s threw, 1800s throo, 1800s throo', 1800s throu, 1800s trew (Norfolk), 1800s–1900s thro, 1800s–1900s throw, 1800s– thru; U.S. regional (chiefly south Midland and southern) 1800s thue, 1800s– fru (in African-American usage), 1800s– thew, 1800s– thoo, 1800s– true, 1900s t'ru, 1900s– th'ew, 1900s– thu, 1900s– tru; Scottish pre-1700 threu, pre-1700 threv, pre-1700 threw, pre-1700 throue, pre-1700 throv, pre-1700 throve, pre-1700 thru, pre-1700 thrw, pre-1700 trew, pre-1700 trhow, pre-1700 1700s– thro', pre-1700 1700s– throu, pre-1700 1700s– throw, pre-1700 1800s– thro, pre-1700 1800s– throwe, 1700s thrae, 1700s– throu', 1800s throuw (north-eastern), 1800s– throo, 1800s– troo (Shetland), 1800s– trou (Orkney and Shetland), 1800s– trow (Orkney and Shetland), 1800s– trowe (Shetland), 1900s trouw (Shetland), 1900s tru (Shetland); also Irish English (northern) 1800s– throo, 1900s– thoo. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11229 Þe sune beme Gas thru [Vesp. thoru] þe glas.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20909 In rome throu an þat hight neron..Naild on þe rod he [sc. Peter] was.c1480 (a1400) St. Matthew 52 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 191 Thrw sorcery & felone gyle.c1480 (a1400) St. Nicholas 806 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 504 Blyndyt threu gret cowatise.1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 185 Doune throu the ryce a ryuir ran.1533 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 396 Such merchunds..as cum throw Oxmantown.c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 77^v Þro mony long chaumbur.1674 D. Brevint Saul & Samuel 140 [He] may fall..thro a broken bridge.1681 Pref. in T. Hobbes Art of Rhetoric sig. A3^v Throu the working of Belief.1709 M. Prior Despairing Shepherd i Wand'ring thro' the lonely Rocks.a1758 A. Ramsay Bonny Tweedside in Tea-table Misc. (1871) I. 142 I'll awa' to bonny Tweed side, And see my deary come throw.1878 W. Whitman Daybks. & Notebks. (1978) I. 122 Sent piece ‘Three Young Men's Deaths’ $12 to Mr John Frazer, Tobacco Plant, Liverpool—thro Josiah Child.1879 Proc. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 6 The committee now present the following words as the beginning of such [a] list [of reformed spellings], and recommend them for immediate use:..Tho. Thru. Wisht.1904 R. Garnett Let. in A. Mizener Ford Madox Ford (1971) ix. 96 If Conrad..paid £3 a week thro Pinker it would be a very considerable help.1917 E. E. Cummings Lett. (1969) 40 I see the thing thru, alone.1934 Z. N. Hurston Jonah's Gourd Vine 233 Sho hope mah boy come thew aw-right.1977 Hot Car Oct. 11/1 Available for S types right thru to Mk 10s it retails for 26 notes.1994 L. Johnson in J. Robertson Tongue in yer Heid 165 Mony an oor I'm spent huntin trow da records. See also thorough prep. and adv. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with (usually as both preposition and adverb) Old Frisian thruch , truch (West Frisian troch ), Old Dutch thuro , thurgh (Middle Dutch door , dōre , dur , doorch , Dutch door ), Old Saxon thurh , thuruh , thuru , thur (Middle Low German dörch , dȫr ), Old High German duruh , durah , durih , durh , dur (Middle High German durch , dur , dür , German durch , †dürch ), and (with different ablaut grade: e -grade) Old Frisian thriuch (North Frisian (Amrum) trüch , (Föhr) trüg ), Gothic þairh , and also Old High German derh (adjective) perforated < a suffixed form (cognate with Sanskrit tiraś-cā , Avestan tarasča both in sense ‘through, across’) of the Indo-European base of Sanskrit tiras , Avestan tarō , both in sense ‘through, across’, classical Latin trāns across, Early Irish tar across, and also Sanskrit tarati passes through, crosses, overcomes. Compare thorough prep. and adv.Stress. The fact that the word may be either stressed or unstressed has resulted in a complicated and divergent form history. The expected pattern is for low-stress forms to predominate in prepositional use (although prepositions can sometimes be emphatic and stressed) and for fully stressed forms to predominate in adverbial use (and also in the derived adjective and noun), but this is complicated by the recurrent tendency of low-stress forms to become restressed and (conversely) of fully stressed forms to be used in low-stress positions. Thus, for example, (restressed) through adv. has entirely supplanted (stressed) thorough adv., whereas (stressed) thorough prep., although always less common than through prep., nevertheless has a long history (and still survives as an archaic form). Old English syntax. In Old English the preposition is construed with the accusative. Form history. The usual form in Old English is þurh . Beside this is attested a (low-stress) form þorh with lowering of the stem vowel, and a (fully stressed) form þuruh with development of an epenthetic back glide between r and h (for the subsequent history of this form see thorough prep. and adv.). The rare form þyrh may perhaps show the reflex of a variant disyllabic form with i in the second syllable (compare Old High German durih and parallel forms with i-mutation in continental Germanic languages), if so probably originally a secondary analogical development. A reduced (low-stress) form þur is first attested in late Old English. The Northumbrian by-form ðerh (also ðærh , and (with epenthetic front glide) ðerih ) could show the reflex of the same ablaut variant (e -grade) seen in Gothic þairh , or could simply show a development in a position of low stress. The β. forms show metathesis of r (attested already in Old English), and the ε. forms subsequent loss of the final voiceless fricative. By the beginning of the 16th cent. the original α. forms had been superseded by metathesized forms, which supply the modern standard form through (already by the 16th cent. the predominant form). The form thro' (generally apprehended as an abbreviated form) was formerly common in all registers (especially from the 17th to the 19th centuries), but is now rare and chiefly informal. In the United States the form thru has long been a favourite of spelling reformers (compare quot. 1879 at ε. forms), but although it remains widely used, especially in signs and notices and in advertising and commercial contexts, it has not gained universal acceptance and is avoided in formal writing. The γ. forms show the development (in both metathesized and unmetathesized forms) of the final voiceless fricative /x/ to /f/ (see discussion at G n. and compare rough adj., enough adj., etc.); J. Wright Eng. Dial. Gram. (1905) 646–7 records regional pronunciations with final /f/ from the north midlands and north of England. Over 500 different spellings of the word (including forms at thorough prep. and adv.) are attested in Middle English, early modern English, and Older Scots. Much of the huge variety in Middle English and Older Scots stems from the fact that the word contains two sounds, the dental and velar fricatives /θ/ and /x/, that in addition to common spelling variation (i.e. þ , ð , th , etc. for the former, h , ch , gh , ȝ , etc. for the latter) are also subject to widespread literal substitution in different scribal writing systems (e.g. y for þ , cht and ght for ch and gh , etc.), with the output greatly confused by the existence of considerable overlap between the two substitution sets (e.g. ȝ , d , t , and th are each capable of representing either sound). The δ. forms present difficulties of analysis. They probably reflect a type with development of some degree lip-rounding. However, it is possible that in some instances the w could be intended to represent a vowel, in which case those instances would belong at thorough prep. and adv. Pronunciation. A wide range of pronunciations is recorded by 16th- and 17th-cent. orthoepists, including the modern standard pronunciation /θruː/ (which results from the restressing (and lengthening) of the Middle English (low-stress) form þrŭ); some of these pronunciations, e.g. the diphthongal /θraʊ/, are continued in modern regional use. See further E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §§4, 175, 177. Through has been used since the Middle English period with many verbs, as break, come, get, go, pass, run, etc.: see these verbs. In most of these the basic uses of through correspond to those given below, while (as with other phrasal and prepositional verbs) the further developments take a more idiomatic turn. A. prep. I. Expressing movement or direction. 1. a. From one end, side, or surface of (something) to another; (a) from one side of (an opening or gap) to the other; (b) from one end or boundary of (a place or area) all the way to the other; along the whole length of (a passage); (c) in at one side or surface of (a solid object) and out at another, esp. so as to pierce or penetrate. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > specific directions > [preposition] > through throughOE thoroughOE throughoutOE athwart1713 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [preposition] > through throughOE OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) vii. 13 Gangað inn þurh [OE Lindisf. Gospels ðerh] þæt nearwe geat, forþon þe þæt geat is swyþe wid..þe to forspillednesse gelæt. OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Vitell.) (1984) 1 (table of contents) Wið þæt men blod upp wealle þurh his muð. c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 294 (MED) Þu leaddest israeles leode of egipte bute schip dru fot þurh þe reade sea. a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Arun.) (1857) 150 Passe par my le mordaunt [glossed] thout [read throut] the bokel. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1242 (MED) Þurth scheld and scholder þe scharpe spere grint. 1446 in C. Innes Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis (1845) I. 245 A lonyng lyand þrow the mur betwix twa ald stane dykes. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xv. sig. Eij Fyres..sodaynly sente throughe the cloudes in grete tempeste and murmure. ?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. A.iiij To condith that people thurgh y^e deserte. 1557 Bible (Whittingham) John iv. 4 He must nedes go through [1526 Tyndale thorowe] Samaria. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 455 The Sergant..brought mee through certayne ascending passages, to a chamber. 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xliv. 196 He cut clean through the jugularie veins. 1735 Lives Most Remarkable Criminals III. 73 Sneaking Goods out of Shops, snatching them through Windows. 1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho IV. xiv. 320 We went through a long passage, and down other steps cut in the solid rock. 1807 T. Young Course Lect. Nat. Philos. I. 780/1 (caption) The pump A forces the water through the pipe B into the barrel C. 1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxxii. 288 George..was lying..dead, with a bullet through his heart. 1867 J. K. Lord At Home in Wilderness vii. 125 Cut half-way through the tree. 1937 Life 12 Apr. 93/2 (advt.) Budapest..isn't one city, but two. The beautiful blue Danube flows right through it! 1986 New Yorker 10 Mar. 98/3 The Moncrief oil company drilled through nine thousand feet of granite. 2007 J. Clary Murder most Fab ix. 97 I stumbled in through the door. b. With reference to the transmission of light, or the action of looking or seeing, from one side of an opening, gap, or transparent object to the other. Also in figurative contexts.See also to look through —— at look v. Phrasal verbs 2, to see through —— at see v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΚΠ OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 6 Nov. (2013) 212 Ða sume dæge an ðara broðra locode in ðæt hus þurh an lytel ðyrel. c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 20 (MED) Heo, þa, & monie ma biheolden þurh an eilþurl as ha bed hire beoden. a1275 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 10 (MED) So gleam glidis þurt þe glas, of þi bodi born he was. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 35 (MED) Þourh hyre side he shon ase sonne doþ þourh þe glas. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11229 Þe sune beme Gas thru [Vesp. thoru] þe glas. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 217 Thurgh a wyndow..He caste his eye vp on Emelya. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) in Centaurus (1968) 12 221 (MED) Þorgh waater may men se If þat it noght deep be. 1533 tr. Erasmus Enchiridion Militis Christiani xiii sig. I.iiij^v Magnifiest thou a pece of his carkas shynyng thrugh a glasse, & regardest not thou the hole mynde of Paule shynyng thrugh his lettres? ?1590 A. Munday tr. First Bk. Amadis of Gaule xiv. f. 64^v He..chaunced on a faire Fortresse, as he gathered by the lights he beheld through the glasse windowes. 1640 T. Nabbes Bride iii. ii. sig. F2 A pignie [read pigmie], that cannot be discern'd but through a multiplying glas. 1656 A. Cowley Misc. 28 in Poems There through Chinks and Key-holes peep. 1717 A. Pope Disc. Pastoral Poetry in Wks. 5 Piety to the Gods should shine thro' the Poem. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xvi. 159 These instances of cunning, which she thought impenetrable, yet which every body saw through. 1839 H. W. Longfellow Hyperion II. iv. i. 114 A mysterious light streams through the painted glass. 1853 C. Dickens Bleak House viii. 76 Mrs. Pardiggle..had been regarding him through her spectacles. 1939 Street & Smith's Western Story Mag. 23 Sept. 10/2 Take a squint at it through my old binoculars. 1967 M. Leyland & M. Leyland Where Dead Men Lie 133 The moon shone through the chinks in the Waddy wood walls. 2011 A. Taylor In Safe Hands 67 Through the window, she could see Mandy. c. With reference to the piercing effect of a loud, shrill, or harsh sound on the ears or nerves, or to the penetrating effect of extreme cold. Cf. pierce v. 2b. ΚΠ c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1871) 500 The goos the cokkow & the doke also So cryede kek kek, kokkow, quek quek hye That thourw [c1450 Digby through, a1500 St. John's Oxf. þurh, a1500 Cambr. Ff.1.6 thourght] myne erys the noyse wente tho. 1578 T. Churchyard Disc. Queenes Entertainem. sig. H.ij As lately loe you heard, by Verses penned well, Which soundes so shrilly through my eares, and tings so like a Bell. 1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 193 An extreame cold winde passed throgh his sides. 1669 W. Killigrew Imperial Trag. v. 44 What shrill voice is that, which strikes through my ears? 1790 J. Woodforde Diary 1 Apr. (1927) III. 180 It was very cold indeed all the Day with a strong Easterly Wind. It cut through a Person. 1800 J. Cottle Alfred v. 108 A piteous cry Pierced through my ears. 1823 Coll. Hist. & Misc. Nov. 326 A very loud sharp whistle..suddenly passed through his head like the report of a pistol. 1919 M. Patterson Woman's Man xlviii. 329 From behind the closed door, a sound pierced through me, a grinding noise like that a truck makes rolling on a track. 1985 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (1999) I. 4th Ser. Episode 3. 219 Del. Nice northerly wind howling in from the Urals in there? Albert. Cuts right through you Del! 2007 P. Verhaeghen Omega Minor 399 Each ferocious squeak of the bedsprings goes right through my head. d. Into, processed by, and out of (a machine, piece of equipment, etc.). Also in figurative contexts. ΚΠ 1526 Grete Herball ccccxxxv. sig. Ziij/1 Take veray small powdre therof and passe it through a sarcenet. 1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 395 At length strain it oft through a Filter bag. 1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor Blomarie, the first forge, through which the iron passeth, after it is once melted out of the myne. 1641 in R. W. Cochran-Patrick Rec. Coinage Scotl. (1876) I. Introd. 31 They would putt 1000 stane [of copper] throw the yrons in the yeire. 1780 W. Tooke tr. J. G. Georgi Russia II. 191 What remains [of the flour] is again passed through the mill, till nothing is left but the bran. 1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1737 I. 49 [Johnson:] Knowledge of the world, fresh from life, not strained through books. 1807 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 490 The raw grain of barley, after being put through the fanners, was lighter. 1845 H. A. Miles Lowell 95 The wool is then dyed; after which it passes through the picker. 1936 U.S. Patent 2,045,435 1/1 Subsequent re-runs of the records through the tabulating machines. 1986 J. McPhee Rising from Plains 86 I put sheets through the wringer. 2013 Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 1 May e1/3 They [sc. marks or flaws] are transferred to each piece of paper that is run through the printer. e. With reference to a faint or distant sound penetrating, and thus audible in spite of, a louder or nearer sound. Cf. above prep. 12. ΚΠ ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxii. 307 I heare through all this crieMy mothers voyce shrieke. 1730 J. Thomson Hymn on Seasons in Seasons 236 The long-resounding voice, oft-breaking clear, At solemn pauses, thro' the swelling base. 1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 67 Languor there was in it, and tremulous shake,..And through it moan'd a ghostly under-song. 1851 Ld. Tennyson Princess (ed. 4) iv. 104 Thy voice is heard thro' rolling drums. 1959 J. Lineberger Sometime Thing 21 (stage direct.) The last thing we hear is a delicate laugh, filtering insidiously through the roar of the engines. 2004 S. Smith tr. I. Némirovsky Suite Française (2006) i. 54 Through the din of the cars..you could barely hear its [sc. a fire siren's] faint, ridiculous sound. f. With reference to figurative barriers or obstructions.In early use chiefly with break (cf. to break through at break v. Phrasal verbs). ΚΠ 1657 J. Owen Of Schisme i. 18 That prudence, which is..not able to breake through their unspeakable prejudices and interests. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. xi. 171 The circumstances of my unfortunate son broke through all efforts to dissemble. 1864 G. Smith Let. to Whig Member Southern Independence Assoc. 65 To break through prejudice, and raise the social condition of the long degraded race. 1933 D. Thomas Let. 25 Dec. (1987) 81 Before one gets to a truth in one's own mind one has to cut through so many crusts of self-hypocrisy and doubt. 1967 R. Fox Kinship & Marriage 50 Anyone trying to understand the subject has to fight his way through half a dozen conflicting taxonomies. 2016 Church Times 15 Jan. 34/3 Bishop Warner's determination to cut through years of official obfuscation is absolutely right. 2. With plural or collective noun as complement: between or among (the individual people or things in a group or mass), esp. so as to reach the other side of an obstruction they collectively create. ΚΠ OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) iv. 30 Hig..læddon hine ofer ðæs muntes cnæpp.., þæt hi hyne nyðer bescufon. Þa ferde he þurh hyra midlen. OE Ælfric Homily: De Populo Israhel (Hatton 115) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 644 Ða eode seo mægð be Moyses hæse þurh ealne þone here æfre ofsleande. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke iv. 30 Jhesus passynge wente thorw the myddil of hem. c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 390 (MED) I sall..Ryde thrughte all þe rowtte. ?1468 in S. Bentley Excerpta Hist. (1833) 230 (MED) The olde Duchez toke hur very moderly..and ladde hur throw the abundaunce of the people..to hur chambour. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 157^v He..ffestnyt hym vp..by the hore of his horse tayle And hurlit hym..þurgh þe hoole ost. 1587 A. Day Longus's Daphnis & Chloe sig. I Hee..gaue leaue and libertie vnto the Ambassadours of Methimnia, to passe through his armie. 1649 W. Bullock Virginia impartially Examined 11 The poore Servant goes daily through the rowes of Tobacco. 1674 R. Head Forreign Jests 61 in Complaisant Compan. One sitting at Supper his Cat past to and fro through his Armes, brushing her Tail against his mouth. 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 327. ¶6 His [sc. Raphael's] Flight thro' the Quires of Angels is finely imaged. 1771 Lady's Mag. Jan. 264/1 A trusty slave..had found means to pass through Soliman's troops, and get into the city. 1843 A. S. Stephens High Life N.Y. (ed. 2) i. 1/2 I went on, as fast as I could get along through the boxes and barrels that lay in the street. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 204 The slippery savage..was bounding through the trees. 1927 Harper's Mag. Oct. 585/1 She slipped through the crowd, dodging her friends, and reached her home. 1969 R. D. Pharr Bk. of Numbers (1970) xi. 129 She picked up a comb and ran it through her closely cut hair. 2012 N.Y. Times 7 Aug. b13/3 Her corner kick.., bouncing into the goal through the legs of several Canadian defenders. 3. Expressing movement in a more or less continuous line within a large expanse (without implying passage all the way across): along within.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense A. 4a. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > [preposition] > here and there in throughOE aboutc1390 thoroughc1450 athwartc1550 OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. i. 4 An circul ys þe uðwitan hatað zodiacus.., þurh þæne yrnð seo sunne. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 23412 Al þat þe wiþstondynge is Þourȝe [a1400 Coll. Phys. Thurg] shaltou þirle with þi swiftenes. tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) vi. 36 (MED) A forgh iij footes deep thy londes thorgh. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1537) xxiv. f. 40 Al the day and nyght wandryng through Rome as loste persones. 1591 E. Spenser tr. J. du Bellay Visions iv, in Complaints sig. Y3 I saw her raunge abroad to seeke her food, And roming through the field with greedie rage. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. ii. 36 As he, in pennance wander'd through the Forrest. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 663 The Night-Hag..riding through the Air. View more context for this quotation 1787 G. Winter New Syst. Husbandry 82 Clouds, which being heavier than the air, of course fall thro' it. 1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow III. vii. 104 He stood up on the choak to ascertain what way she was making through the water. 1864 A. J. Barrington Diary 27 Mar. in N. M. Taylor Early Travellers N.Z. (1959) 404 Continued through the forest..till we came to a swamp. 1903 Times 14 Mar. 14/5 The Oxonians showed good form through choppy water. 1989 S. Drache Ritual Slaughter i. ii. 17 The van weaved its way northward through the city. 2015 New Yorker 1 June 77/3 It [sc. the Mars Climate Orbiter] spent the next nine and a half months travelling through the solar system. 4. a. Over the whole surface or extent of; in or to all or many parts of; everywhere in. Cf. throughout prep. 3a.Sometimes with emphatic all, the whole, etc.See also to go through —— 2 at go v. Phrasal verbs 2, to look through —— 2 at look v. Phrasal verbs 2, to run through —— 4 at run v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > here, there, etc. > here or there [preposition] > throughout throughOE throughoutc1275 across1935 OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 5 He astyrað þis folc lærende þurh ealle Iudeam. c1300 St. Dunstan (Harl.) l. 145 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 38 (MED) Þis þreo bischops wende forþ þurf al Engelonde And eche liþer persoun caste out. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2149 (MED) Þei souȝt alle so serliche þurh cites and smale townes. a1400 in K. W. Engeroff Untersuchung ‘Usages of Winchester’ (1914) 80 Lat crye þe bans þorgh þe town þe þridde day by-fore þe selynge. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 243 Al stouned at his steuen..þurȝ þe sale riche. ?a1475 G. Banester Guiscardo & Ghismonda (BL Add.) l. 4 in H. G. Wright Tales from Decameron (1937) 2 (MED) Through the worlde sprang hys grete fame. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin i. 10 I sought thourgh my chamber. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 125 Leif creuelte..Or throucht the warld quyte losit is ȝour name. 1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xlv. f. 226 The corrupt humoure, of those that haue a feauer..disperseth it self incureably, through all the other sensible parts of the body. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iii. vii. 13 We will make thee famous through the World. View more context for this quotation 1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 134 A little white Cloud..which by shaking, diffuses it self through all the Liquor. 1744 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons (new ed.) 103 And Thulè bellows thro' her utmost Isles. 1774 P. Proctor tr. F. de S. de La Mothe-Fénelon Adventures Telemachus I. iv. 81 May Morpheus..diffuse a pleasing languor through your wearied limbs. 1840 W. M. Hetherington Thoughts Connexion between Church & State 6 The powers of the State..must be such as to enable it to cause its own principles to permeate through the whole community. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. vii. 260 Minute particles diffused through the atmosphere. 1941 A. St. James tr. S. Zweig Brazil 211 Those roaming gangs..who roved through the whole country..in search of loot. 1989 E. L. Doctorow Billy Bathgate iv. xix. 296 She rummaged through her old cedar chest to find the baby clothes. 2015 New Yorker 16 Nov. 59/1 It takes years for genetic changes to spread through a population. b. In postmodifying position. Frequently emphasized by all, the whole, etc., preceding the noun. Cf. sense A. 8a(b). Now rare (poetic or archaic in later use).In this construction through could alternatively be regarded as an adverb. ΚΠ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11824 Þe fester thrild his bodi thurgh [rhyme scurf]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11070 Noght allan ierusalem burgh, Bot elles al þe contre thurgh [Gött. thurght, Trin. Cambr. þourȝe, c1460 Laud thorogh]. 1556 R. Robinson tr. T. More Utopia (ed. 2) sig. Svii Platoes citie, Whose fame flieth the worlde throughe. a1625 J. Fletcher Island Princesse ii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Nnn3/1 Suspectlesse have I travell'd all the towne through. 1689 England's Joy for taking off Chimney-money (single sheet) (verso) There is not one Old Dame in Ten, and search the Nation through; But when you talk of Chimney Men, shall spare a Curse or two. 1703 W. Baron Separation & Sedition Inseparable 16 He alone was Christs Bishop: all others the whole World through, had their Powers delegated from him. 1851 E. B. Browning Casa Guidi Windows ii. xv. 109 A cry is up in England, which doth ring The hollow world through. 1884 J. J. Hissey Old-fashioned Journey iii. 42 Search all England through you could not equal it. 1963 B. Dylan Gypsy Lou (song) in Lyrics 1962–2001 (2004) 26 I seen the whole country through Just to find Gypsy Lou. †5. Following a modal auxiliary verb, with main verb (as go, pass, etc.) implied. Cf. sense B. 4c, through v. 3. Obsolete (archaic in later use). ΚΠ 1492 tr. Dyalogus Salomon & Marcolphus sig. b Alle metys that is ordeyned for the body, muste through the bely. 1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 85 If a mans iourney lieth so, that he must nedes through the Forrest. 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. xi. 26 You proud abhominable tents,..Ile through, and through you. 1656 Wit & Drollery 86 Did blush to see the man in gowne, Fearing the taile would through the town. 1790 G. Colman Battle of Hexham ii. 30 I'll thro' the forest and seek these wanderers. 1840 W. G. Simms Border Beagles I. v. 81 I'll through Harry Monmouth's knapsack before he takes his crumbs out. 1908 A. D. Rees William Tell 62 I'll thru Schwytz, And listen to the people's voice and heed All their complaints. 6. In predicative use, expressing position or location: having reached the other side of; on the further side of; past, beyond. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > distance or farness > distant from [preposition] > on the farther side of beyonda1000 througha1591 aside1597 ayond1724 a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1593) 505 As you are through the narrowe gate, all is large and goodly, and pleasant. 1657 A. Hutchins Caines Bloudy Race 26 When he was through the Lake, he was made to stand still to be a Witnesse for God. 1683 J. Morrison tr. J. J. Struys Perillous Voy. iii. i. 116 When we were through the Wood, we passed through several little Villages. 1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter 93 in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 560 By this time he was cross the ford..And thro' the whins, and by the cairn. 1801 ‘Gabrielli’ Mysterious Husband II. 267 They stopped at an inn nearly through the town. 1864 Barthel Winkler 59 After advancing thus for about three-quarters-of-an-hour, we found that we were almost through the forest. 1903 O. J. S. Lindelof Trip North Pole vi. 76 By evening we were through the canyon. 1995 H. P. Jeffers Grand Night for Murder vii. 36 The bar is through the door on our right, fellas. 2001 C. Madhavan Paddy Indian xix. 217 He was nearly through the village. 7. Expressing the extent of turning from one orientation to another, esp. as expressed in degrees or as an arc of a circle. ΚΠ 1646 S. Danforth Almanack 9 A Solar month..in which time the sun runneth through the 12th part of the Zodiack. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. iv. iii. It [sc. the wind] changed, and for half an hours space did nothing but shift and turn, through all the North Points of the Compass, betwixt West and East. 1728 H. Pemberton View Sir I. Newton's Philos. i. ii. 87 The greater arch the pendulous body moves through, the greater time it takes up. 1790 S. Vince Treat. Pract. Astron. ii. 31 Let us conceive the second surface to revolve through a small angle so as to be inclined by that angle to the first surface. 1841 W. Whewell Mech. Engin. i. 20 A link is a rod fastened at its extremity to another piece by a pin, so that it can turn through any angle. 1877 Hosp. Gaz. & Arch. Clin. Surg. 1 Dec. 307 The forearm normally rotates through an arc of about 180°. 1906 J. W. A. Young Teaching Math. in Elem. & Secondary School (1907) xiii. 275 In what direction does he now face? Through how many right angles has he turned? 1998 BBC Top Gear Mag. Sept. 78/1 The wheels will spin..and the rear of the car will turn through 360 degrees. 2010 C. McKay Big Ben vi. 55/2 A..pendulum swinging through an arc of several degrees. II. With reference to time, and in other extended uses. 8. During the whole period of; from the beginning to the end of. a. (a) With reference to something continuing or lasting for the whole of an amount of time. Cf. throughout prep. 3b.Sometimes with emphatic all, the whole, etc.See also to get through —— 3 at get v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΘΚΠ the world > time > [preposition] > during throughOE amongOE thoroughOE among thatlOE amidwarda1225 ofc1275 lengingc1400 hanginga1420 amongsta1450 depending1503 pendant1642 pending1642 OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) iii. 83 In ecnesse þurh ealra worulda woruld aa butan ende. OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxxii. 20 Eac wes gemyndig, hu þe unwise edwita fela þurh ealne dæg [L. tota die] oft aspræcon. c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 9 (MED) Þet teos hali leafdi in heouene luuie us þe mare & þurh þis lihinde lif leade us to þet eche. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 447 Ich so do þurȝ niȝt & dai. a1325 Diuersa Cibaria in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 52 Wete heom [sc. floures] þat abeon drue, & soþþen abeon igrounden wel in an morter, & soþþen þou miht holden þur alle ȝer. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 222 Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene. 1487–8 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 141 On euery sonday throwȝe þe yer. 1581 W. Allen Apol. Two Eng. Colleges f. 74 Al the Churches of Christ through al ages. 1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. F2 Through the length of times he stands disgraced. View more context for this quotation 1614 W. Browne Shepheards Pipe i. sig. B 2 b These my harmlesse flocke of sheepe. And through all the day I tend them. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 846 Thus Adam..lamented..Through the still Night. View more context for this quotation 1710 W. Salmon Botanologia II. dxviii. 772/2 They [sc. Nettles] come up plentifully early in the Spring, and through all the Summer Months. 1779 Mirror No. 37. ⁋5 The same sanguine temperament of mind which..has attended him through life. 1849 Family Economist 2 10/1 Those who persist in wearing cotton-stockings through the winter. 1896 T. F. Tout Edward I (ed. 2) iv. 80 All through his reign, the Lusignans helped him in Gascony. 1929 J. E. Weaver & F. E. Clements Plant Ecol. xiii. 326 Reproductive activity in some [plants] continues through several months. 1976 Amer. Jrnl. Psychiatry 133 22/2 Mothers frequently reported great difficulty in getting the children to sleep through the night. 2003 C. Birch Turn again Home ii. 33 Mam and Dad went on at each other all through tea and right on into the evening. (b) In postmodifying position. Frequently emphasized by all, the whole, etc., preceding the noun. Cf. sense A. 4b.In this construction through could alternatively be regarded as an adverb. Cf. over prep. 19b, round prep. 10a. ΚΠ 1540 R. Tracy tr. J. Frith Prepar. to Crosse i. vii. sig. D.viii He praied the hole day through euen to euentyde. 1588 E. Aggas tr. M. Hurault Disc. Present Estate of France 21 This man hath all his life through, yea from the beginning of his youth fought against necessitie it selfe. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. ii. 82 The businesse..held out with much debating, the yeare through. 1797 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Bot. Harmony Delineated 169 Without being incommoded, the whole journey through, with..the sultry heat of Summer. 1864 M. Gatty Parables 4th Ser. 5 He was seldom seen without one [sc. a flower] in his button-hole all the summer through. 1872 A. T. de Vere Disbelief Milcho in Legends St. Patrick 32 Fireless sits he, winter through. 1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 62/1 (advt.) The best way..to keep your floors bright and easy to clean the year through is to varnish them. 1990 Amateur Gardening 7 Apr. 12/1 (advt.) Rosemary direct from your garden all year through. 2007 C. Finch Beautiful Blue Death xxiii. 145 It had..snowed the whole night through, and there was a fresh white coat over the city. b. With reference to doing or experiencing something in its entirety, spec. to undergoing or enduring something difficult or unpleasant.See also to go through —— 1 at go v. Phrasal verbs 2, put v. 21b, through thick and thin at thick and thin n. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [preposition] > from beginning to end of thorougha1325 through1494 1494 W. Hilton Scala Perfeccionis (de Worde) i. liv. sig. evii Doo as thou woldest bere it downe and goo thrugh it, Thou shalt agryse & lothe this derkenes. 1543 R. Grafton Contin. in Chron. J. Hardyng f. civ^v Kyng Rychard..purposed to go throughe thicke and thinne in this mater. 1578 T. Tymme tr. J. Calvin Comm. Genesis 326 I may not runne through vncertain speculations. 1613 J. Yakesley tr. St. Francis de Sales Introd. Devoute Life Pref. 16 Hauing conducted him through all the exercizes, which I thought conuenient to his holy desire, [etc.]. 1664 Cramond Kirk Session II. 28 Dec. William Weems..petitioned the session that he might be dismist, because he could not possiblye win againe throw the throng and multitude of his masters business. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xiv. 132 I had..put my horse through all his paces. 1776 C. Lee Let. 19 Feb. in G. Washington Papers (1988) Revolutionary War Ser. III. 339 I must bustle through the difficulties. 1831 T. B. Macaulay Let. 15 July in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) I. iv. 233 I should have liked to have sat through so tremendous a storm. 1886 A. Sergeant No Saint I. vi. 105 An old land surveyor..put him through a long catechism. 1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xviii. 156 It is nothing to the misery that we all went through. 1967 K. Tynan Let. 13 Jan. (1994) vi. 384 It would be pointless to ask Sir Arthur to read it before then—since if he does, he will only have to plough through it again immediately afterwards. 2014 Vanity Fair Mar. 269/3 Security personnel would put her through repeated interrogations designed to elicit confessions. 9. a. With emphasis on completing an action, process, undertaking, etc., or (esp.) surviving or emerging from difficult circumstances: all the way to the end of. Cf. sense A. 11.See also to come through —— at come v. Phrasal verbs 2, to get through —— 1 at get v. Phrasal verbs 2, to live through —— at live v.¹ Phrasal verbs 2. ΚΠ 1494 W. Hilton Scala Perfeccionis (de Worde) ii. xxvi. sig. ni They woll not come thrugh this derknes that I haue spoken of before. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke xxiv. f. clxxxvi^v Beyng to them a perpetuall guyde and coumpanion also, vntill he bryng them through and past all the daungiers of this presente lyfe. 1642 J. Grant Gods Deliv. Man by Prayer sig. A2 Having got through my Prayer, I propounded my Text. 1744 G. Berkeley Siris (ESTC T72826) §2 Seven children, who came all very well through the small-pox. 1795 B. H. Malkin Ess. Civilization iii. 57 Empiric Tutors may rattle through a book of Homer before dinner. 1824 New Monthly Mag. 10 19 I never could read through the Nouvelle Heloïse. 1843 J. W. Carlyle Lett. (1883) I. 253 I seemed to be got pretty well through my sewing. 1911 W. Owen Let. 21 Nov. (1967) 97 The borrowed-brainstuff which I imbibed to help me through the Exam. 1976 Ld. Home Way Wind Blows xvi. 219 He came through the debates with a greatly enhanced reputation as a Parliamentarian. 2004 A. Greig In Another Light (2005) 188 He's got this far, got through the war, university, survived the flu. b. Chiefly North American. Up to (a number, date, or other item in an ordered sequence) inclusively; up to the end of; up to and including. Cf. inclusive adv. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > condition or state of being inclusive > in the number or class of [preposition] > up to and including through1798 1798 T. Holcroft Diary 4 Aug. in Memoirs (1816) III. 31 Continued the opera through scene 9, Act 3. 1851 N. I. Bowditch Hist. Mass. Gen. Hosp. 405 Presidents. William Phillips..from 1814..through 1826..13 years. 1873 Ann. Rep. Board Educ. 1872 (Auburn Public Schools) 79 Complete through page 75 Pupil's Edition of Beebe's First Steps. 1882 Amer. Farmer 15 Oct. 293/2 The..cattle show..was held in Utica last week, from Monday through Friday. 1930 H. Brown (title) Rabelais in English literature through Sterne. 1971 Physics Bull. Dec. 738/1 In the review copy pages 1469 through 1472 are already loose which does not say too much for the quality of the binding. 2010 August (Georgia) Chron. (Nexis) 2 May 1 The beauty shop is open for styling Thursday through Saturday. 10. a. With reference to the stages of a period of time, event, etc., or (in early use esp.) the parts of a book, speech, etc.: during the course of; at various points during. ΚΠ ?1526 G. Hervet tr. Erasmus De Immensa Dei Misericordia sig. M For of prayers, wepynge, fastyng,..is nowe spoken here and there through al the sermon. 1554 J. Proctor tr. St. Vincent of Lérins Waie Home to Christ sig. M.iii^v Lyinge heretikes abuse the testimony of the scriptures... For ye shall se them flye throughe euerie volume and parte therof, throughe all the bokes of Moyses, [etc.]. 1622 T. Taylor Pilgrims Profession 81 Exercise our selues in holy meditations, prayers, and prayses, sundry tymes through the day. 1774 W. Mitford Ess. Harmony Lang. 93 I cannot find any thing like [it]..thro the whole essay. 1804 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 9) Advt. 8 (note) The occasional strictures, dispersed through the book,..will not..appear to be dry and useless discussions. 1852 New Jersey Med. Reporter Aug. 416 Upon reflection, through the day, I concluded that I had taken an overcharge. 1968 New Amer. Rev. ii. 159 She makes various attempts through the film to rouse him. 2015 Courier (Dundee) 17 July (Perth & Perthshire ed.) 8/2 Winds are expected to pick up through the day. b. With reference to an intervening or intermediate stage or condition which is gone past in a process or course of action. Cf. sense A. 12.Frequently with pass: see also to pass through —— at pass v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΚΠ 1603 W. Clark Replie Libell Father Parsons f. 80 [He] hath runne through so many titles, euer shifting to the greatest, as occasions doe require. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 5 Obedience fully tri'd Through all temptation. View more context for this quotation 1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1784 II. 480 Dr. Gillespie, who..had the advantage of having passed through the gradations of surgery and pharmacy. 1818 T. Moore Fudge Family in Paris vi. 103 They graduate Through job, red ribbon, and silk gown, To Chancellorship and Marquisate. 1881 A. P. Stanley Christian Inst. (1882) vii. 131 In the new crisis through which the world was to pass. 1922 F. M. Ford Let. 12 Feb. (1965) 138 E. J. is going through such a peevish stage with her teeth that to have her in the house would be no pleasure. 1990 R. MacGregor Quantity Time 121 This could prove invaluable should the child move through Tweenies and Brownies and Guides and on, one day, to federal politics. 2015 N.Y. Times Mag. 14 June 25/1 Touring a Brooklyn neighborhood that has passed through a phase of mere gentrification to become fully luxurized. c. Used to indicate an intermediate item in a sequence or list (without necessarily implying consecutive development).Correlating with from (from prep. 2b) indicating the first item and to (to prep. 13b) indicating the last. ΚΠ 1770 Polit. Reg. July 13 It [sc. genealogy] goes up from George the Second, through all these princes, to Henry the First. 1851 Critic 1 Sept. 421/3 All the shades of green, from the darkest olive, through the most brilliant emerald, to..delicate yellow green. 1859 S. Smiles Self-help 21 From the general down through all grades to the private and bugleman. 1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling xi. 110 His wares included..necessities..from plows, wagons, buggies and implements, through food staples to whiskey and hardware. 1962 Listener 26 July 130/2 Rents range from just over £3 a month for a small flat, through about £14 for a two-bedroom house, to £23 for the most elegant apartments. 2007 P. Gale Notes from Exhib. (2008) 75 An onslaught of every species of affection from sorrowful looks through handshakes to hugs. 11. In predicative use, expressing a state of completion. Cf. sense B. 5a(b). a. Having reached the end of (a task, book, etc.).Frequently, and in earliest use, with modifier, as half through, halfway through, quarter-way through, etc.: having reached the specified stage of; having completed the specified amount of. ΚΠ a1641 J. Everard Some Gospel-treasures Opened (1653) 178 If by opening all these names, which yet I am not half through, I can bring about but the acknowledging your own guiltiness, I shall think my labour well bestowed. 1681 W. Paterson Remarques New Project Assoc. 6 The late Usurpers themselves were halfe way through the Rebellion, before they arriv'd at that degree of Boldnesse. 1788 W. Hazlitt Let. Mar. (1979) iii. 45 I shall be through the whole cyphering book this summer, and then I am to learn Euclid. 1791 T. Jefferson Writings (1896) V. 330 I think I can be through them [sc. a bundle of letters] by the end of the week. 1834 D. Crockett Narr. Life viii. 64 I am glad that I am now through war matters. 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. iv. 68 We're only half through Lent term. 1947 Sunday Reg. (Beckley, W. Va.) 16 Feb. 9/6 I'm through work at 5:30 every afternoon. 1991 Vanity Fair Mar. 158/2 We are almost a third of the way through an unending primer on the artifacts of life in New York. 2014 A. Fine Of Metal & Wishes (2015) xiii. 146 By lunchtime I'm through the stack of notes from yesterday and ready for another. b. Having passed (a test or examination). Later also: having successfully completed (a particular stage of a competition). Cf. sense B. 5a(c).It is sometimes unclear whether the reference is to successfully passing a test, etc., or more generally to completing it (sense A. 11a). ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > examination > examine [verb (intransitive)] > pass examination to get through1805 through1830 pass1843 to shave through1860 scratch1890 1830 C. Darwin Let. 25 Mar. in Corr. (1985) I. 101 I am through my little Go! 1863 E. King Let. 25 Jan. in Spiritual Lett. (1910) 10 I am very glad you are through your examination. 1917 M. Mears Candid Courtship xxv. 303 As soon as ever I was through my exam, I was going to specialize in public health work. 1996 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 16 Jan. 25 After his match, Philippoussis was slapped on the back by Bollettieri: ‘There you go! We're through the first round.’ 2016 Times of India (Nexis) 22 May Now that I am through my exams, I will take some time out and decide what I really want to pursue. c. colloquial. With verbal noun or gerund as complement: having stopped (doing something); spec. having had enough of; ‘done with’. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > completing > complete or conclude action [verb (intransitive)] enda1340 finisha1400 conclude1526 to get through1589 get1594 dispatcha1616 to shut up1626 to wind up1631 finale1797 to top off1836 to top up1837 through1894 to roll up1963 1894 Outing 24 428/2 You may as well tell him that you're through taking lessons. 1904 F. Lynde Grafters vi. 78 After we were all through laughing at him. 1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues iii. 40 I had decided I was through turning tricks as a call girl. 1990 M. Levine Deep Cover xi. 292 I found a very pissed-off Steve Nelson in his office. He was through waiting. 2013 Illawarra (New S. Wales) Mercury (Nexis) 26 Nov. 34 I've talked my whole career, I'm through talking, I'm ready to fight. III. Expressing agency, means, or cause. 12. a. By means of; by the intermediate agency of; with the aid of; via. In early use also: †by the primary agency or action of (obsolete).See also to go through —— 4 at go v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > by the instrumentality of [preposition] ofeOE throughOE throughouta1250 moyenant?1473 moyening1512 via1930 OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke xvii. 1 Inpossibile est ut non ueniunt scandala, uae autem illi per quem ueniunt : unmæhtiglic is þætte ne cymo ða ondspyrniso wę ðonne ðæm ðerh ðone hia cymas. OE Cynewulf Fates of Apostles 63 We þæt gehyrdon þurh halige bec, þæt mid Sigelwarum soð yppe wearð, dryhtlic dom godes!. OE Cynewulf Elene 289 Ic þæt gearolice ongiten hæbbe þurg witgena wordgeryno on godes bocum þæt ge geardagum wyrðe wæron wuldorcyninge, dryhtne dyre ond dædhwæte. ?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1132 Þurh Godes milce & þurh þe biscop of Seresbyri.., þa wiste þe king ðat he feorde mid suicdom. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13254 Ȝa þurrh fulluhht. ȝa þurrh hannd gang. Att hadedd manness hande. 1258 Proclam. Henry III in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1868–9) 19 Henr' þurȝ godes fultume king on Engleneloande. c1300 Pilate (Harl.) 89 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 113 He huld him bitrayd þurf felonie. ?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 108 (MED) A serpent he com þroȝ felonie And makid Eue chonge hir þoȝt. a1350 (a1325) St. Cecilia (Ashm.) l. 224 in Yale Stud. in Eng. (1898) 3 88 (MED) Alas..þis vair creature Schal nou ȝeue hire ȝonge lif, & deie þour fure. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ix. l. 151 Þus þourw cursed caym cam care vppon erthe. ?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 31 (MED) Þi grace grawnt þou me throwh þi gret mercy. c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 16 A grete navy..ovyrcom throw myghty fyghtyng. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 137 Throuch thar aller hale assent, Messingeris till hym thai sent. 1573 J. Tyrie Refut. Ansuer Knox f. 57^v To expose thame self troch sic wane subterfugis. 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue sig. B iij Abell was slayne..through the handes of his brother Cain. 1645 E. W. Life & Death William Lawd To Rdr. sig. A2 The old Serpent the Devill, speaking through a Dying man,..would have beguiled all the Christian world. 1691 W. Yworth New Art of making Wines ii. 15 First we shall consider the various sorts of dissections there be, to be performed through Chymical and Spagirical operations. 1721 Place's Hypothetical Notion of Plague 23 Solids not being infectible but thro' the Mediation of their own Fluids. 1793 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 153 The answer given to Monsieur Lesardier was through a young gentleman. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 123 [He] could not prevent the national sentiment from expressing itself through the pulpit and the press. 1885 Act 48 & 49 Victoria c. 53 §15 Every notice..sent through the post in a prepaid registered letter. 1915 O. K. Parr Through Dartmoor Window iv. 27 A certain London editor..has sent me a pained message through a mutual friend. 1966 Negro Digest Oct. 78/1 Through literature, theater and art, the revolutionizing of the consciousness of the black people can be achieved. 1997 Internet Mag. Jan. 74/3 As AOL is a community you can talk to other members either through email or live chat. 2015 Wall St. Jrnl. 15 Aug. a1/6 U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed through tests that mustard agent was used. †b. Introducing the agent after a passive verb; = by prep. 33a. Obsolete. ΚΠ OE Blickling Homilies 9 Iu geara heofonrices duru..belocen standeþ.., nu heo sceal þonne þurh þe ontened beon. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvi. 24 Wa þam menn þurh þone þe byþ mannes sunu belæwed. OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 363 Ic wearð yfele gelett þurh ænne haligne munuc, se hatte Publius. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 83 (MED) Adam wes ilechned þurh god almihti solf. a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 563 Crist is tokned ðurȝ ðis der. c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) civ. 16 (MED) Joseph was solde to þral þurth hem. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 20909 In rome throu an þat hight neron..Naild on þe rod he was. 1424 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1814) II. 5/1 Chargit be þe gret aithe throwe þe bischope. a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 12 Vnnethes he was I-draw vp throgh his felowes, þat mych put har lyf in aduentur for to saw his lif. 1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 43 b/1 The skinne beinge lift vp through some seruant, or through the Chyrurgiane with his Pinsers. c. Expressing association with one person via (another); spec. expressing relationship via (a common ancestor). ΚΠ 1823 School for Sisters xi. 131 Lady Osbourne was connected, through a former husband, with several families of rank. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 526 John Ayloffe, a lawyer connected by affinity with the Hydes, and through the Hydes, with James. 1868 Chambers's Encycl. I. 76 Agnates, in the law both of England and Scotland, are persons related through the father, as cognates are persons related through the mother. 1939 E. Marsh Number of People vi. 126 Wilfrid Blunt could call cousins with Shelley through a common Sussex ancestress. 1990 J. Cantalupo & T. C. Renner Body Mike 104 I met Connie through a real estate salesgirl I knew. 2000 K. Barber Generation of Plays iii. 62 She was..related to the royal family through her father's mother. 13. a. Expressing cause, reason, or motive: because of; in consequence of, on account of, owing to; (now frequently) on account of (a particular personal quality). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [preposition] > because of throughOE thoroughOE ofc1175 fornec1440 seen1485 about1600 froma1616 OE Genesis B 610 Þa se forhatena spræc þurh feondscipe. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvi. 31 Þurh þæs hyrdes slege byð seo heord todræfed. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1127 Þet wes eall ðurh þone kyng Heanri. a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 191 Ðurch onde com deað in to þe worelde. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 144 (MED) Fader & his moder, þorh him heo sculden deiȝen. c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 1400 Ich ne beo noȝt worthi..That the King scholde thurf me in wraththe beon ibroȝt. a1325 (?c1300) Northern Passion (Cambr. Gg.1.1) l. 1203 (MED) Þe appil, þroth Eue is rede, Broth Adam to þe ded. J. Gaytryge Lay Folks' Catech. (York Min.) (1901) l. 14 (MED) He made skillwise creatures, angel and man..to knaw god al-myghten, And, thurg thair knawing, loue him and serue him. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1969) Isa. v. 13 His noble men dieden þurȝ hungir. a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate Siege Thebes (Arun.) (1911) l. 1297 (MED) He was blynde þorgh derknesse of the nyght. c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 3 Þe paralityke man..heled of our lorde..þroughe þe beleve off theyme þat bare hym. 1562 in J. Stuart Sel. Rec. Kirk Aberdeen (1846) 9 Gryte thyft, committit throcht verray neid and necessite. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 369 If he through frailty err. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 90 Thro' Wine they quarrell'd, and thro' Wine were slain. View more context for this quotation 1739 H. Bracken Lithiasis Anglicana 41 The Distemper may likewise have its rise from retaining the Urine too long, whether through Modesty or Laziness. 1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere ii, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 14 Every tongue thro' utter drouth Was wither'd at the root. 1823 J. Lingard Hist. Eng. VI. 223 A pontiff unfit for his station through ignorance. 1894 J. T. Fowler in St. Adamnan Vita S. Columbae Introd. 56 The southern Picts..embraced the truth through the preaching of St. Ninian. 1933 Financial Times 19 Apr. 7/7 Through their own stupidity, they will have sacrificed their best interests. 1981 J. Halliday & J. Halliday in K. Thear & A. Fraser Compl. Bk. Livestock & Poultry (1988) iv. 81/2 Goats are notorious escapers, partly through sheer curiosity and partly through the desire to search for different foods. 2001 S. Waugh Ess. Mod. World Hist. xi. 517 Any interruption of work through illness, old age or unemployment would lead to poverty. b. In accordance with, according to or conforming with. ΚΠ eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xxv. 342 Oft in gebeorscipe, þonne þær wæs blisse intinga gedemed, þæt heo ealle scalde þurh endebyrdnesse be hearpan singan. OE Laws: Iudex (Nero) ii. 474 Sume gyltas beoð fram þam godan deman þurh riht to betanne, sume þurh mildheortnesse to forgyfanne. c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) l. 106 (MED) Engles ant sawlen..mahten endin þurh cunde, ah he..maked ham þet ha beoð in eche buten ende. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. x. 15 Þe talwes þat been brent in þe auter, þei han arered byfore þe lord..perteynyn to þe & to þy sonys þour perpetuel lawe. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 817 (MED) Þe pope..may, þurgh no resun, Þe sunday puttyn vp no dowun. a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 1717 (MED) Þe body es dedly here thurgh kynde. a1500 (?a1425) Antichrist (Peniarth) in R. M. Lumiansky & D. Mills Chester Myst. Cycle (1974) I. App. 516 (MED) A, lord..That reverence the, thowe on theym rede and theym thrughe right relevyd. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. iii. 27 Euen those which through custome did celebrate the pluralitie of Gods, did yet notwithstanding beleeue that there is but onely one true God. 1661 Life & Acts William Wallace iv. i. 42 Sir Rannald Crawfurd..through right was born Sheriff of Aire. 1840 Common School Jrnl. (Boston) 1 May 129 The occasions they [sc. the most instructive books] furnish to the reader, to exert all his own vigor upon the subject, and, through the law of mental association, to bring all his own faculties to act upon it. 1924 Wall St. Jrnl. 29 Feb. 11/1 The 1922 state law vesting water power companies with authority to acquire private property by condemnation through right of eminent domain. 2016 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 4 Sept. 31 Support for the SNP is at historic levels... But many activists fear that it can only fall in future through the laws of political gravity, the longer the party is in office. †14. In oaths and invocations: in the name of. Cf. by prep. 2. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [preposition] > denoting basis of an oath > in oaths: by or in the name of throughOE OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xxii. 16 Ic swerige ðurh me sylfne, sæde se Ælmihtiga. OE Christ & Satan 693 Ic þe hate þurh þa hehstan miht þæt ðu hellwarum hyht ne abeode. c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 8 Ne unrotsæ þu me na swiðor, ac, ðurh þone almihtiȝæ god, ic bidde þe þet ðu hit me nu sceawiȝe. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 92 Þurch þilke neiles ich halsi ou ancren..haldeð ouwer honden inwið ouwer þurles. c1300 St. Edmund Rich (Laud) 307 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 440 Þurf oure louerdes passioun, tel nou..me. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3127 I coniure þe, þurth crist..þatou titli me telle..wheþer þow be a god gost. †15. With respect to, in connection with. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 24 He swiðlice bereowsode þæt he swa mucel agult hæfde þurh ðæt haliȝ treow. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 120 All Crisstene follkess..Iss lang upp o þatt an. þatt teȝȝ..Wiþþ fulle mahhte follȝhe rihht. Þurrh þohht. þurrh word. þurrh dede. a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 65 (MED) Þu yeuest a wrecche weole y-nouh, noht þurh his hele. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. v. 23 Ȝe comyn to me alle þe princis of þe lynagys & þe more þour burþe. B. adv. I. Expressing movement or direction. 1. a. From end to end, side to side, or surface to surface; so as to pass all the way across; so as to pierce or penetrate. Also in figurative contexts. Cf. sense A. 1a. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [adverb] > through > right through throughoutOE throughOE through and throughc1225 thorough and thoroughc1300 out-througha1325 thoroughlya1500 OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxxvii. 15 He sæ toslat, sealte yþa gefæstnade, and hi foran þurh. c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5019 (MED) Mani þai hitten and smiten þurth. c1425 Castle of Love (Egerton) (1967) l. 647 (MED) His fete nayled thurd with yrne nayles Made asseth for al thi wikkid trauayles. c1450 J. Metham Palmistry (Garrett) in Wks. (1916) 91 Als strekyn thourth with oon lyne or with many lynes. a1500 (c1400) Vision of Tundale (Adv.) (1843) l. 327 Tho heyte of the fuyr dyd throw pas. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lix. 205 Huon..strake hym with his spere clene throwe. 1578 T. C. Hospitall for Diseased 56 Rase the same lether but not through. 1634 W. Wood New Englands Prospect ii. xv. 88 They..stab their marke quite through, if the bones hinder not. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre ii. 49 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian Anciently there was no passage through. 1719 I. Watts Hymns ii. lix. 2 Glory to God that walks the sky, And sends his blessing thro'. 1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere i, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 9 The Ice did split with a Thunder-fit; The Helmsman steer'd us thro'. 1850 J. Leitch tr. K. O. Müller Ancient Art (new ed.) §337 A..garment..drawn..over the right arm, or else through beneath it towards the left arm. 1878 Macmillan's Mag. July 165 Your question..has probed right through To the pith of our belief. 1959 Home Encycl. 51 Using a fish slice, cut the fish through to the backbone. 2006 Independent 5 Aug. 37/4 You had to squeeze against your neighbour,..to let someone through with a tray of drinks. b. With reference to the transmission of light, or the action of looking or seeing, from one side of an opening, gap, or transparent object to the other. Also in figurative contexts. Cf. sense A. 1b. ΚΠ OE Judith 49 Þær wæs eallgylden fleohnet fæger ymbe þæs folctogan bed ahongen, þæt se bealofulla mihte wlitan þurh, wigena baldor, on æghwylcne þe ðær inne com. 1567 Sir N. Throgmorton Let. 9 Aug. in T. Wright Queen Elizabeth & her Times (1838) I. 262 Surely they see through into your doings. 1573 G. Gascoigne Disc. Aduentures Master F. I. in Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 280 She poynting hir Maister to the keyhole, bad him looke through. a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1958) IX. 237 Though he interline it with other studies..yet the Text it selfe..will shine through and appeare. 1694 G. Tullie Disc. Govt. of Thoughts iii. 174 Look through at those things that lie within the Vail. 1738 H. Grove Disc. conc. Lord's Supper (ed. 2) 15 I can easily perceive his divine Glory shining through. 1841 Tracts for Times No. 89 57 Some behold only the body of the Scriptures... Others see through to the meaning. 1849 N. Hawthorne Main Street in E. P. Peabody Æsthetic Papers 162 You can discern it in them, illuminating their faces..with a light that invariably shines through. 1921 Motor Boating Feb. 66/2 In fog, mist,..or heavy rainstorms, when vessels cannot actually see through, fog signals only must be given. 1987 Gourmet Apr. 148/2 Occasionally the sun peeped through. 2016 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 21 Apr. 62/2 As with all transparent matter, light just passes through. c. With reference to travel or transport: along the whole distance; all the way to the destination (also in figurative contexts). Later chiefly spec.: all the way to the destination without stops, transfers, additional payments, etc. Frequently with to. Cf. through adj. 2b.See also to book through at book v. Phrasal verbs. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [adverb] > to the end of a journey each footc1300 throughc1450 thorougha1475 c1450 Mandeville's Trav. (Coventry) (1973) l. 470 (MED) To Malleleuile he passeth throuhe Ouere þe ryuer of Dayneby. 1577 in G. Best Voy. Martin Frobisher (1867) 94 When the captayne were gone throughe to Kathai, the ship should lade this thinge for ballast. 1597 A. Hartwell tr. D. Lopes Rep. Kingdome of Congo i. i. 12 From whence if ye will go through to the hauen of Loanda, yee must saile the length of an hundred and fourescore miles. 1617 J. Bargrave in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 198 in Parl. Papers (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 His packets sometimes fail when private letters go through. 1692 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 376 He was accompanied part of the way by the queen..and Essex, who went thro'. 1733 A. Pope Ess. Man: Epist. II 17 Hope travels thro', nor quits us when we die. 1786 Morning Post 10 Nov. This is..the only carriage in which places are booked through to the Head. 1848 Merchants' Mag. Sept. 333 Boston and New York, via Norwich... Fare through, $5. 1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 6 Jan. in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) 6 The great bulk of our luggage had been registered through to Paris. 1923 Humorist 4 Aug. 44/2 They put a whole lot of imbecile questions to the booking-clerk as to what platform their train starts from, and if it goes right through and what time they get there. 1952 Irish Times 26 Sept. 7/4 There again it [sc. the mail] is unloaded as the train goes through to Hull. 2007 Independent 10 Feb. (Mag.) 13/3 His hold baggage..was already checked through to Karachi. †d. Following a modal auxiliary verb, with main verb (as get, go, pass, etc.) implied. Cf. senses A. 5, B. 4c. Obsolete (archaic in later use). ΚΠ c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lxiii (MED) Bot, hert! quhere as the body may noght throu, Folow thy hevin! ?1561 T. Blundeville Newe Bk. Arte of Ryding sig. B.ii^v [He] hard all men say, it was mete to gyue place..but..he wold through whatsoeuer became of it. a1625 J. Fletcher Chances i. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Aaa^v/1 I must through; if yee dare side me. 1647 N. Nye Art of Gunnery i. 20 If you cannot sift it through the sive, beat that again into powder which will not through. 1906 M. Bowen Viper of Milan xxi. 216 We must pass, we must through this moment. e. With specified measurement: in width, breadth, or thickness; from side to side; in diameter. Cf. across adv. 4. ΚΠ 1615 E. Sharpe Britaines Busse sig. B3 Each net must haue a rope 5 or 6 Fathom long and an Inch through. a1687 W. Petty Treat. Naval Philos. i. iv, in T. Hale Acct. New Inventions (1691) 128 A Mast above 30 inches through. 1798 A. Ellis Country Dyer's Assistant ii. 22 Negroger is brought to us in sticks about six inches through. 1856 I. F. Holton New Granada xxix. 436 All land covered with thicket is called monte if but a few miles through, and montaña if more. 1885 Amer. Architect & Building News 29 Aug. 100/1 A platform composed..of wooden beams, each 12 centimetres through, placed crosswise over each other. 1908 G. B. Sudworth Forest Trees Pacific Slope 371 The horse-bean is a short-trunked, smooth-barked tree from 15 to 25 feet high and from 4 to 8 inches through. 1990 Hobart Mercury (Nexis) 6 Aug. [He] had Don manufacture a Don Whopper [i.e. a sausage]—122 centimetres long and 20 centimetres through. 2. In every part; over the whole extent; throughout the whole substance or thickness; thoroughly. a. Postmodifying an adjective or past participle, as wet through, heated through, etc. Later also following a verb or clause, as to wet someone through, to heat something through, etc.See also wet through at wet adj. 4c. ΚΠ c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 381 (MED) He swett so þat all his clothis warr wett thrugh. 1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. G.i/1 Clowtes wet in the same water and layde vpon the blaynes whiche be broken through cawseth them to be hole. 1590 J. Blagrave Baculum Familliare App. 67 Both legges shall bee whole and sounde quite through. 1615 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Cupids Revenge iii. sig. G4^v Commonly they [sc. women] are like Apples: If once they bruse They will growe rotten through. a1665 K. Digby Closet Opened (1669) 206 Broil them, till they are hot through, but not dry. a1766 F. Sheridan Concl. Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph (1770) IV. 53 He had been wet quite through. 1816 J. K. Tuckey Narr. Exped. River Zaire (1818) v. 179 During the night we had two smart showers of rain, which..wetted us through. 1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 165 Thy..trunk is nearly rotten through. 1892 G. Hake Mem. 80 Years lxiii. 259 The natives get hot-through in the..spring and summer months. 1922 Peanut Promoter Mar. 38/2 Put sugar and water in saucepan. Let stand until sugar is moist thru and put over slow fire. 1970 Gourmet Aug. 58/1 Add the mushrooms to the chicken, and heat them through. 2015 E. de Mariaffi Devil you Know iv. 46 My hat..was lying on the outer doorstep, soaked through and frozen. †b. Premodifying an adjective or past participle, as through dry, through heated, etc. Cf. thorough adv. 1. Obsolete.Developed from compounds at through- prefix 2, where more established uses have been placed. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb] > completely or thoroughly welleOE furtherlyc1175 through and through?1316 perfectlya1400 radically?a1425 roundly?a1425 substantiallya1425 perfectc1425 thoroughly1442 substantiallyc1449 throughlya1450 naitlyc1450 through1472 surely?a1475 cleanc1475 through stitch1573 fundamentally1587 down1616 perfectedly1692 minutely1796 homea1825 good1834 rotten1840 out1971 full on1979 1472 in H. J. F. Swayne Churchwardens' Accts. Sarum (1896) 4 j playne Chalyce with his patent both through gilte. ?a1475 Noble Bk. Cookry in Middle Eng. Dict. at Thurgh-stif To roste venison, tak feletes of venyson bound and cutt away the skyne and parboile it and let it be throughe stiff; then lard it with salt and put it on a smale broche and rost it. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) l. 463 (MED) I was siluere perfite, throwgh fyne; Now am I golde excellent, better þan the prime. 1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. b.i^v/2 Take an erthen canne and sette it in an ouen.., whan it is thrugh warme, than put in it molten waxe. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 32 In wintir quhen thay ar throuch fatt. 1631 T. Heywood Fair Maid of West: 2nd Pt. iii. sig. E4^v Through satiate with the pleasures of this night. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 762 Materials being now through dry by the heat of the weather. 1691 E. Taylor J. Behmen's Theosophick Philos. i. xvi. 382 Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire. 3. In predicative use, expressing position or location. a. Having reached the other side; on the further side.Frequently, and in earliest use, with modifier, as half through, halfway through, etc.: having reached the specified point on the way to the other side. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [adverb] > through > having passed through through1587 1587 L. Mascall First Bk. Cattell iii. (Hogges) 293 If your trenches be short, ye maie pricke a wand in the mids therof, which will shew when she is halfe through. 1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes III. iv. iii. 712 I was perswaded..to go betwixt the Iland and the Mayne, but when I was almost through,..I could not find water enough for the ship. 1649 Moderate Intelligencer No. 219. 2073 Lieutenant Col. Strachan who commanded the fore-partie, consisting of about 50 horse, being through, marched on. 1701 E. Veryard Acct. Divers Choice Remarks 84 The Hole being finish'd, one of the Night-walkers came in with his Legs foremost, whom the People within seiz'd when his Body was about half thro'. ?1796 H. More Black Giles the Poacher: Pt. I ('Cheaper' ed.) 4 They are very apt to let the gate slap full against you, before you are half way through. 1838 H. Martineau Retrospect Western Trav. II. 63 We entered the tremendous gateway... When we were through and had rejoined our wagon, my attention was directed to the Profile. 1856 Home Circle Aug. 386/1 We are almost through. Already the shout of joy and triumph is sent from the bank. 1930 D. Cottrell Earth Battle 302 Many found the fence gaps and were through. 2006 D. Trussoni Falling through Earth (2007) iv. 35 I wasn't too worried about the fence... I was almost through when a gunshot rang through the forest. b. With reference to a telephone call or caller: connected; having reached another person by telephone. Now esp. with to. Cf. to put through 2 at put v. Phrasal verbs 1. ΘΚΠ society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telephony > [adverb] > connected through1893 1893 W. H. Preece & A. J. Stubbs Man. Teleph. iv. xv. 256 As soon as the ringing key is released the two subscribers are through. 1915 Telephony 6 Feb. 33/2 The telephone jester announced: ‘You're through to Birmingham.’ 1932 D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase iii. 33 The grocer announced that Harriet's call was through... ‘Hullo!’ she said. 1977 Rolling Stone 30 June 80/3 Directly getting Honolulu information, I got a number for Wiley Hampson and presently was through to him at his home in Hawaii Kai. 2016 Sun (Nexis) 1 Jan. 43 Now when my phone rings I say: ‘Hello, you're through to Ripley police station.’ II. With reference to time, and in other extended uses. 4. a. With reference to a period of time, course of action, task, book, etc.: from beginning to end; for the whole duration or extent. Cf. sense A. 8.See also to read through at read v. Phrasal verbs. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb] > fully or to full extent or in full > from beginning to end througha1225 overc1400 throughoutc1450 thoroughc1475 throughly1531 straight1756 a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 237 He wes acende of þe clene mede þe efer þurh lefede mede. a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. vi. 383 When shall I heare all through ? View more context for this quotation 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 196 I may boldly say, I never yet read a whole Gazetta through. 1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 133 Who now reads Bolingbroke? Who ever read him through ? View more context for this quotation 1865 A. C. Swinburne Chastelard i. i. 11 She must weep If she sing through. 1891 Law Times 92 18/2 Having heard the case through and seen the witnesses. 1918 Amer. Lutheran Apr. 1 The deacon sits it through with a yawn, because he has to. 1989 Viz Oct. 21/1 Sausages, eggs, sugar—even trousers are rationed. But..beleaguered Britain keeps smiling through. 2015 P. Hawkins Girl on Train 41 We're struggling to get her [sc. a baby] to sleep through. b. With emphasis on completion: so as to arrive at a successful conclusion or outcome; so as to survive or emerge from difficult circumstances. Cf. sense A. 9a.See also to carry through 2 at carry v. Phrasal verbs, to come through 1a at come v. Phrasal verbs 1, to pull through at pull v. Phrasal verbs, to see through at see v. Phrasal verbs 1. ΚΠ a1460 E. Clere in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 199 I seid his maister schuld leve his mayntenaunce, wherof I schuld haue right good suerte or ellys we schuld not go thorgh esyly. c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 80 Traistand jn god, and jn his gude rycht to bring him throuche. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccliii. 375 The mariage..was driuen through and agreed. 1556 in J. W. Clay North Country Wills (1908) I. 239 Iff he helpe my executors through for the making of my accompte with the King. 1682 M. Rowlandson Narr. of Captivity & Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson in R. H. Pearce Colonial Amer. Writing (1956) 132 God..is fully able to carry them through and make them see. 1708 W. Wilson in A. Ferrier Mem. Rev. W. Wilson (1830) 43 I pray that God may..give me prudence and resolution to apply my mind to my study, that I may not linger, but come through with credit and success. 1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well III. x. 258 Let me manage the affair for you, and I will bring you through with a flowing sail. 1884 Cent. Mag. Jan. 428/2 Spunk'll sometimes pull a man through. 1900 Daily News 12 Nov. 3/4 I had taken on a task, and I was bound to see it through. 1978 W. Wasserstein Uncommon Women & Others i. v. 23 Every freshman has a junior sister and a secret senior elf to help them through. 2010 Grocer Feb. 13/1 Though Buffett is clearly not a fan of the deal, he may have helped push it through. †c. Following a modal auxiliary verb, with main verb (as get, go, pass, etc.) implied. Cf. senses A. 5, B. 1d, through v. 2b. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Husbandman l. 2321 in Poems (1981) 87 This will not throu but grit coist and expence. 1680 J. Touchet Mem. iv. 43 But how plainly soever I saw my ill condition, I must through as well as I could. 5. In predicative use, expressing a state of completion. a. †(a) Having reached an agreement. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1445 A. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 27 The vikarie of Paston and yowre fadre,..wher thorwe and acordidde, and doolis sette howe broode the weye schuld ben. (b) Having completed or accomplished a process, task, etc.; spec. having had enough of something.In earliest use with modifier, as almost through, half through, halfway through, etc.: at the specified stage in completing something. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > completing > [adverb] > completed througha1616 off1683 1447–8 in S. A. Moore Lett. & Papers J. Shillingford (1871) i. 37 (MED) Y thanked hym and seide with his gode lordship we were almost thurgh and at an ende, y seyyng also..‘y knowe we buth alle most thurgh.’ a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. iii. 123 I am halfe through, The one part suffered, the other will I doe. View more context for this quotation 1682 N. Tate Ingratitude of Common-wealth ii. 22 Yet am I half through. 1815 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 513 Many that have usually finished their Wheat-seeding by this time, are only half through, and some have not sown a grain. 1887 Scribner's Mag. May 622/2 He..then..scrawled a dash underneath. ‘There! I'm through!’ he said. 1930 J. B. Priestley Angel Pavement x. 508 ‘You're through then, eh?’ ‘All I can do to-night, Mr Smeeth.’ 1988 M. Marrin Eye of Beholder ii. 12 That's it... I'm through. I've had enough of this crew. 2000 M. Beaumont e 326 If you hang on till I'm through we can go out. (c) Originally: having passed a test or examination. Later chiefly: having successfully passed to the next stage of a competition (esp. with to). Cf. sense A. 11b. ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > examination > [adverb] > having passed examination through1849 1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xxi. 196 ‘This man has passed,’ he thought, ‘and I have failed!’..‘Good bye, Spavin,’ said he. ‘I'm very glad you are through.’ 1866 Belgravia Nov. 76 The examiners..are now consulting together as to who is ‘through’ and who is ‘plucked’. 1891 R. F. Murray Scarlet Gown 80 If I were through in Moral, And you were spun in Math. [etc.]. 1937 Scotsman 29 Nov. 5/1 Bromley and Walthamstow Avenue are safely through to the next round. 1973 Irish Times 20 July 3/6 The glorious uncertainty of golf came into play...Dermody three putted and Sutton were through. 2008 Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent) 27 Nov. 37/4 Holden Lane..are through to the quarter-finals after beating Kidsgrove B. b. With reference to a period of time, event, task, etc.: at an end, completed, finished; over.In earliest use with modifier, as almost through, half through, halfway through, etc.: at the specified stage of completion. ΚΠ 1743 S. Johnson Let. 2 Jan. (1992) I. 32 Mrs. Johnson's Illness..is, I hope, now almost through. 1786 R. Burns Poems 86 But ere the course o'life be through, It may be bitter sautet. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xix. 57 We had just so much work to do, and when that was through, the time was our own. 1896 Daily News 18 July 3/1 [He] did not arrive till the speech was half through. 1920 Outlook 3 Nov. 402/1 What is the Red Cross doing, now that its war work is through? 1972 N.Y. Times 22 May 43/1 We were given for our sins a musical about Hawaii.., and before it was halfway through I realized..that I would rather have been in Las Vegas. 2016 Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Nexis) 24 Feb. 4 Mr Mudell was determined to share a drink with his mum before the day was through. c. colloquial. With reference to two or more people: having no prospect of any future relationship or dealings; no longer partners, friends, or associates. Esp. in we're through: used to inform someone that a relationship is over. ΚΠ 1925 D. Belasco Girl of Golden West ii, in M. J. Moses Representative Amer. Dramas 84/2 Don't you ever speak to me again—we're through! 1939 I. Baird Waste Heritage ii. 23 Now when we get down to the hall we're through, see? I don't want nothin' more to do with you, I don't even know your name. 1988 C. Jerina Tropic Gold xxiv. 265 That had been the last straw. He'd told her straight out that they were through, finished, finito. 2009 J. Kellerman True Detectives xviii. 170 You jerk me around, we're through. d. colloquial. Having no further prospects, use, or value; no longer popular or successful; ‘past it’. ΚΠ 1934 W. Saroyan Daring Young Man 38 We're washed up as a race, we're through, it's all over. 1942 E. Paul Narrow Street xxxi. 281 An outsider not familiar with French politics might have thought that Daladier was through. Not at all. He got himself elected by the Popular Front..in April, 1938. 1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues xix. 173 It was only a few weeks before, people had been telling me I was through in the United States, that the public would never accept me. 1996 E. A. Proulx Accordion Crimes (1997) 414 They're washed up now, they're through. Phrases †P1. through all thing: in all respects; thoroughly. Obsolete. [In origin thing in this phrase shows an (unchanged) plural. Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French par tut , Middle French, French partout (late 12th cent. in this sense: see passepartout n.).] ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > in respect of everything or part > in every respect through all thingeOE at all pointsa1375 from point to pointa1393 at all rightsc1405 in high and lowc1405 in generala1413 every incha1450 all in allc1475 at all sorts1612 all round1867 eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xxiii. 326 Þa funde he oðerne þurh eal þing him þone gelicestan [L. alium illi per omnia simillimum]. eOE Royal Psalter: Canticles xi. 27 Ita ut per omnia sicut iam supra dictum est et trinitas in unitate et unitas in trinitate ueneranda sit : swa þæt ðurh ealle þing [lOE Salisbury Psalter þurh eal þing] swa nu io bufan gecweden is & þrynes on annesse & annes on ðrynesse to arweorðgenne sy. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5470 Ich sugge þe þurh alle þing. ich sloh Asclepidiot. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1927 (MED) Charlis, þat is of fraunce kyng..Hoteþ þe þorw alle þyng to leuen þyn errour. a1500 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Douce) l. 249 (MED) Þer fore þe barons wold Habbe loked, þrouȝ alle þyng, Þat þu, Fortiger, schalt be oure kyng. a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 27 A man full quent, trew throw al thynge [a1525 Trin. Dublin trogh], bolde, and stydfaste of word. P2. to be through with. a. To have arranged matters with (someone); to have come to an agreement with. Cf. to be thorough with at thorough prep. and adv. Phrases 3. Obsolete (English regional in later use). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement with [verb (transitive)] to be through with1484 1484 in J. P. Collier Househ. Bks. John Duke of Norfolk & Thomas Earl of Surrey (1844) 480 My Lord is throughe with his servaunt Robert Worsley, for certayn men..to be ready at all tymes at my Lordes wages. 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. ii. 39 If a man is through with them in honest taking vp, then they must stand vppon security. View more context for this quotation 1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale To be through with any one, to complete a bargain with him. b. To have finished or completed; to have dealt with completely. ΚΠ 1829 Afr. Repository & Colonial Jrnl. July 150 Since I am through with it [sc. the fever], I am glad I have had it, as it will exempt me entirely from it hereafter. 1844 N.Y. Munic. Gaz. 4 Apr. 345/3 After this expensive ceremony was through with, the Ashes were allowed to continue on the voyage to Boston. 1902 W. N. Harben Abner Daniel vii. 55 ‘I don't understand you.’ ‘Well, you will before I'm through with you.’ 1962 I. Asimov Chemicals of Life (ed. 2) iv. 61 When both enzymes are through with their separate jobs, all that is left of the protein molecule are short amino-acid chains. 2014 C. B. McKenzie Bad Country 280 When Rodeo was done with his several cups of coffee and his dog was through with his morning constitutional, they drove to the..hospital. c. To be tired of; to have had enough of. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored with [verb (transitive)] irka1500 to be through with1895 have1941 1895 Musical Courier (N.Y.) 24 Aug. 14/3 Oh, as for women, you know, I am through with 'em. 1907 Everybody's Mag. Oct. 566/2 Pa..was through with the whole matter, and wanted to eat his supper in peace. 1913 Sat. Evening Post 18 Jan. 22/3 I'm through with her for good, I tell you! 1990 J. Eberts & T. Ilott My Indecision is Final lvi. 607 I was no good at building empires for people. I was through with empires. 2015 C. Black Murder on Champ de Mars 253 I'm through with being a pawn passed between the services. P3. a. through a person's hands (also †hand), through the hands of a person: so as to be handled or dealt with by the specified person. through many hands (and variants): via many people, via numerous intermediaries. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > by the instrumentality of [phrase] > specifically a person through a person's hands (also hand)c1330 by the hand(s) of1639 c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 1035 Erst þow schelt pase þourȝ min hond. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. f. clxxxii/1 The money..paste throughe his handes and his treasourers. 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 346 They are able in one day to make two hundred Harquibushes..although there be no Harquebush that goeth through lesse than ten hands at the least. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures iv. 8 The things of God..lose their value and force, when they are sifted through so many hands. 1709 J. Bagford in MS Rawl. Let. 21 lf. 8 All of them from y^e Bookes themselues which haue run throw my handes. 1778 A. Lee Let. 9 Jan. in R. H. Lee Life A. Lee (1829) II. 127 To call those to an account, through whose hands I know the public money has passed. 1862 G. Rawlinson Five Great Monarchies I. viii. 215 His numbers having suffered corruption during their passage through so many hands. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §6. 408 Plot and approval alike passed through Walsingham's hands. 1947 M. McLuhan Let. Dec. (1987) 191 Two books on popular culture are in process of circulation through editorial hands. 1970 A. K. Armah Fragments iv. 112 I've had six, maybe seven students pass through my hands who really had something. 2006 Vanity Fair July 95/1 It has emerged that the forged Niger documents went through the hands of the Italian military intelligence service. b. Scottish. through hand (also hands): so as to be handled or dealt with; in process; in hand. Later esp. in to take through hand (also hands): = to take in hand at hand n. Phrases 2p(a). ΚΠ 1763 in Trans. Highland & Agric. Soc. (1903) 14 92 He was using the Norfolk plough, and by means of it putting a great deal of work through hand. 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 345 I had her through hands once, and could then make little of her. 1854 Cottage Gardener 16 Mar. 457/1 The fast doers, who care not how the world goes round, provided they get every job through hand as fast as anything. 1875 Border Treasury 27 Feb. 353 A' her auld grievances were taen throo haunds, an' kiel-hauld to the utmost. a1917 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick (1927) 22 Let iz ken whan ee've hed the maitter throwe hands. 1986 Glasgow Herald 3 Feb. 8/7 An important presbytery meeting at which Mr Chilton's case will be taken through hand. 2005 Recorded Conversat.: Family from North East Scotl. (SCOTS transcript) in www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Aw that kinda things have been taen through hand. Compounds through-the-lens adj. Photography designating focusing, light metering, etc., that uses the light passing through the lens of the camera (the same light that would form the image) rather than employing a separate viewfinder, metering window, or sensor. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > technical factors > [adjective] > light measurement through-the-lens1947 T.T.L.1968 1947 Pop. Photogr. Feb. 197/1 Providing features previously found exclusively on 35 mm models, it offers rack-over for through-the-lens focusing. 1965 Focal Encycl. Photogr. (rev. ed.) I. 554/1 Through-the-lens exposure measurement has the advantage..that the meter cell receives light from exacly the same subject field as is taken in by the lens. 1984 What Video? Aug. 59/2 Fair picture, basic colour temperature controls, through-the-lens viewfinder. 2012 J. Wignall Digital Photogr. FAQs ii. 107 Through-the-Lens (TTL) metering is the way that virtually every digital camera measures light. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022). > see also also refers to : through-prefix < n.¹eOEn.²c1500n.³1683n.⁴1908adj.c1450v.a1474prep.adv.eOE see also
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