Etymology

thorough

T1H4O1R1O1U1G2H4

Today it means: Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail. Full definition →

First used 9th–19th c.Middle English thoruȝ ← Old English þuruh
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The story

  1. Old English · inherited fromþurh
  2. Old English · inherited fromþuruh
  3. Middle English · inherited fromthoruȝ
  4. English todaythorough

From Middle English thoruȝ, þoruȝ, from Old English þuruh, a byform of Old English þurh, whence comes English through. The adjective derives from the preposition and adverb. The word developed a syllabic form in cases where the word was fully stressed: when it was used as an adverb, adjective, or noun, and less commonly when used as a preposition.

Words from the same roots

Old Englishþurh all →

throughthroughout

First known use, by meaning

  • 9th–19th c. Through.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.