adv. Now formal or arch. [f. WHERE 15 + THROUGH prep. Cf. Du. waardoor, G. wodurch.] Through which (in various senses of THROUGH prep.).
1. In reference to movement or direction in space, etc., or to duration in time (THROUGH prep. 1–4).
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 170. Veire weies … ȝwar þorȝ me mai wende Fram þe on ende of engelond vorþ to þe oþer ende.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), viii. 30. Him behoues passe by þe Reed See … whare thurgh þe childer of Israel went drye fote.
1568. Bible (Bishops’), Wisd. xix. 8. The drye earth appeared…; Wherethrough all the people went that were defended with thy hande.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxiv. Mine eyes haue drawne thy shape, and thine for me Are windowes to my brest, where-through the Sun Delights to peepe, to gaze therein on thee.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VI. 281. The top is couered, and hath three holes, where-through they let the dead Christians fall downe.
1842. Tennyson, Ulysses, 19. All experience is an arch wherethro’ Gleams that untravell’d world, whose margin fades For ever and for ever when I move.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., II. III. 349. The many years Wherethrough thou waitedst.
1896. A. Morrison, Child Jago, v. A hole where-through a very small boy might squeeze.
2. In reference to agency or instrumentality (THROUGH prep. 7): By means of which, whereby, wherewith. Now rare or Obs.
13[?]. Northern Passion, I. 25/222. It es my fless þat I ȝow gif, Whar thurgh ȝe may þe better lif.
13[?]. Gosp. Nicodemus (G.) 284. We say a spirit enclosed he has, wharthurth all thinges he wate.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 128. Force of Powere, wher-throgh he may his reme kepe, mayntene, and defende.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XIII. xviii. 638. Whanne shalle the holy vessel come by me where thurgh I shalle be blessid.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 1868/2. A great tempest … wherethrough sixe houses in that towne were borne downe.
1678. R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, xiii. § 2. 446. That … Spiritual Body of Christ; whereby, and wherethrough, he communicateth Life to Men.
3. In reference to reason or cause: By reason of which, on account of which, wherefore; in consequence of which, from which, whereby, whence (as result or inference); rarely referring to a person = by whom: cf. THROUGH prep. 8. arch.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 779, in O. E. Misc., 25. Amonges men a swete smel He let her of his holi spel, Wor-ðurȝ we muȝen folȝen him In-to his godcundnesse fin.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 236. Ne nis na þing hwerþurh monnes muchele madschipe wreððeð him wið mare.
c. 1300. Beket, 839. Whar thurf me thingth that of nothing thu ne schalt ansuere noȝt.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 170. Schir Ihon the Balleoll … Assentyt till him, in all his will; Quhar-throuch fell eftir mekill ill. Ibid., VII. 89. Quhar-throu.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxvii. 103. For lawchtir neir I brist; Quhairthrow I walknit of my trance.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S. T. S.), I. 27. This was done without the chancellaris counsall quhair throw he was hichlie offendit.
1638. Penkethman, Artach., I 3. There could be none found for money, where-through many poore people were constrained to eat Barks of Trees.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, ii. Your Spaniard … is a person altogether unparalleled in his own conceit, wherethrough he maketh not fit account of such foreign cavaliers of valour as are pleased to take service with him.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., II. III. 7. Folk cried the name Of him wherethrough the weary struggle came.
