thorough (adj.)

c. 1300, adjectival use of Old English þuruh (adv.) "from end to end, from side to side," stressed variant of þurh (adv., prep.); see through. Related: thoroughly; thoroughness.

Entries linking to thorough

through (prep., adv.)

late 14c., metathesis of Old English þurh, from Proto-Germanic *thurx (source also of Old Saxon thuru, Old Frisian thruch, Middle Dutch dore, Dutch door, Old High German thuruh, German durch, Gothic þairh "through"), from PIE root *tere- (2) "to cross over, pass through, overcome." Not clearly differentiated from thorough until early Modern English. Spelling thro was common 15c.-18c. Reformed spelling thru (1839) is mainly American English.

*tere- (2)

*terə- Proto-Indo-European root meaning "cross over, pass through, overcome."

It forms all or part of: avatar; caravanserai; nectar; nectarine; nostril; seraglio; thrill; thorough; through; tranche; trans-; transient; transom; trench; truculent; truncate; trunk.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit tirah, Avestan taro "through, beyond;" Latin trans "beyond;" Old Irish tre, Welsh tra "through;" Old English þurh "through."

See all related words (6) >

Others are reading

Share thorough

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/thorough

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/thorough">Etymology of thorough by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of thorough. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/thorough

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of thorough,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/thorough.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of thorough.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/thorough. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of thorough.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/thorough (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of thorough

thorough (adj.)

without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers;

a thorough nuisance

Synonyms: arrant / complete / consummate / double-dyed / everlasting / gross / perfect / pure / sodding / stark / staring / thoroughgoing / utter / unadulterated

thorough (adj.)

painstakingly careful and accurate;

thorough research

our accountant is thorough

thorough (adj.)

performed comprehensively and completely; not superficial or partial;

made a thorough search

Synonyms: exhaustive / thoroughgoing

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near thorough

Thorazine

thorium

thorn

thorny

thoro

thorough

thoroughbred

thoroughfare

thoroughgoing

thorp

those