v. Obs. Forms: see THROUGH prep. and SEEK v. [OE. þurhsécan, f. þurh, THROUGH adv. + sécan to SEEK: cf. OHG. durh-suohhan, Ger. durchsuchen.]
1. trans. To seek or search through; to search or examine thoroughly.
a. 1050. Liber Scintill., 209. Conquirens, þurhsecende.
c. 1200. Ormin, 242. Her endenn twa Goddspelless þuss, & uss birrþ hemm þurrhsekenn.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 520. Þa he hefde al þet lond ouergan & þurhsoht.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2440. When alle þi life sal be thurgh soght.
1489. Skelton, Dethe Erle Northumbld., 179. Whose pere is hard to fynd, Algife Englond and Fraunce were thorow saught.
2. To penetrate; to imbue or saturate thoroughly; in quot. a 1450, to pierce, run through with a weapon.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 191. He … mid te shene attre þurh secheð al þe soule.
c. 1250. Death, 54, in O. E. Misc., 170. And in euche lime Deþ us hafð þurh-soht.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. i. (Skeat), l. 120. Purely mated with sorowe through sought.
1390. Gower, Conf., i. 106. His wit … is with pride so thurghsoght, That he alle othre set at noght.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 2873. Thys qarell leve wyll I noght, Ne pees shall ther neuer be sayne Or thy sydes be throw sought.
