through

I. preposition Etymology: Middle English thurh, thruh, through, from Old English thurh; akin to Old High German durh through, Latin trans across, beyond, Sanskrit tarati he crosses over Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) — used as a function word to indicate movement into at one side or point and out at another and especially the opposite side of <

drove a nail through the board

> (2) by way of <

left through the door

> (3) — used as a function word to indicate passage from one end or boundary to another <

a highway through the forest

> <

a road through the desert

> (4) without stopping for ; past <

drove through a red light

> b. — used as a function word to indicate passage into and out of a treatment, handling, or process <

the matter has already passed through her hands

> 2. — used as a function word to indicate means, agency, or intermediacy: as a. by means of ; by the agency of b. because of <

failed through ignorance

> c. by common descent from or relationship with <

related through their grandfather

> 3. a. over the whole surface or extent of ; throughout <

homes scattered through the valley

> b. — used as a function word to indicate movement within a large expanse <

flew through the air

> c. — used as a function word to indicate exposure to a specified set of conditions <

put him through hell

> 4. — used as a function word to indicate a period of time: as a. during the entire period of <

all through her life

> b. from the beginning to the end of <

the tower stood through the earthquake

> c. to and including <

Monday through Friday

> 5. a. — used as a function word to indicate completion or exhaustion <

got through the book

> <

went through the money in a year

> b. — used as a function word to indicate acceptance or approval especially by an official body <

got the bill through the legislature

> II. adverb Date: before 12th century 1. from one end or side to the other 2. a. from beginning to end b. to completion, conclusion, or accomplishment <

see it through

> 3. to the core ; completely <

soaked through

> 4. into the open ; out <

break through

> III. adjective Date: 15th century 1. a. extending from one surface to another <

a through mortise

> b. admitting free or continuous passage ; direct <

a through road

> 2. a. (1) going from point of origin to destination without change or reshipment <

a through train

> (2) of or relating to such movement <

a through ticket

> b. initiated at and destined for points outside a local zone <

through traffic

> 3. a. arrived at completion or accomplishment <

is through with the job

> b. washed-up, finished