thorough

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

Adjective

thorough (comparative more thorough, superlative most thorough)

  1. Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail.
    The Prime Minister announced a thorough investigation into the death of a father of two in police custody.
    He is the most thorough worker I have ever seen.
    The infested house needs a thorough cleansing before it will be inhabitable.
  2. Utter; complete; absolute.
    It is a thorough pleasure to see him beg for mercy.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Preposition

thorough

  1. (obsolete) Through. [9th-19th c.]

Noun

thorough (plural thoroughs)

  1. (Britain, dialectal) A furrow between two ridges, to drain off the surface water.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)
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