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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Through

Through, prep.

preposition

(thrōō, 21), prep. [O. Eng. thurgh, thorghe, A-S. thurh, thuruh, O. Sax. thurh, thuru, thoro, O. Fries. thruch, truch, N. Fries. troch, dör, D. door, deur, L. Ger. dör, O. H. Ger. durh, durah, durih, duruh, N. H. Ger. durch, Goth. thairh, W. trw, trwy, Armor. dré, Ir. tria, tri, tré, Gael. troimh.]

  1. From end to end of, or from side to side of; from one surface or limit of to the opposite; as, to bore through a piece of timber, or through a board; a ball passes through the side of a ship.
  2. Between the sides or walls of; within; as, to pass through a gate or avenue.

Through the gates of ivory he dismissed His valiant offspring. Dryden. 3. By means of; by the agency of. Through these hands this science has passed with great applause. Sir W. Temple. Material things are presented only through the senses. Cheyne.

  1. Over the whole surface or extent of; as, to ride through the country.
  2. Among or in the midst of; in the way of passage; as, to move through water, as a fish; to run through a thicket, as a deer.
  3. From beginning to end; to the end or conclusion; as, through life; through the year.

Through, adv.

adverb

(thrōō), adv. 1. From one end or side to the other; as, to pierce a thing through. 2. From beginning to end; as, to read a letter through. 3. To the end; to the ultimate purpose; as, to carry a project through.

☞ Through is sometimes prefixed to other words; as, through-bolt, through-ticket, through-train, and the like. To drop through, to fall to pieces; to come to ruin; to perish. — To fall through, to be given up, as a project or plan, before being brought to an issue; to be abandoned; to fail.