The spelling of "looked through" may seem a bit tricky, but it can be easily explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The word "looked" is pronounced as /lʊkt/, with a short "u" sound and a "t" at the end. On the other hand, "through" is pronounced as /θru/ or /θruː/, with a "th" sound at the beginning and a long "u" sound. When these two words are combined, the "k" from "looked" is inserted to connect the two words, resulting in the spelling "looked through."
"Looked through" is a compound verb phrase that consists of the verb "looked" and the preposition "through". It refers to the act of examining or inspecting something with attention and scrutiny. This action involves directing one's gaze through a specific object, location, or material, in order to observe, search, or study the contents or elements within.
When someone says they "looked through" something, it typically implies a thorough examination or investigation, often involving visual inspection. The phrase can be used in both literal and figurative senses. In a literal sense, it may describe physically scanning the contents of a book, document, or an object, such as looking through the pages of a magazine or examining the objects inside a transparent container.
In a figurative sense, "looked through" can be used to describe the act of analyzing or studying information, such as looking through a set of documents or records to find specific details or evidence. It can also indicate the action of delving deep into one's thoughts or memories; for example, a person might say they "looked through their memories" to recall a specific event or experience.
Overall, "looked through" implies a deliberate and concentrated effort to visually or mentally explore and scrutinize the content or essence of something.
The word "looked through" consists of two main components: "looked" and "through".
The term "looked" is the past tense form of the verb "look", which originated from the Old English word "lōcian". This Old English term evolved from the Proto-Germanic root "*lōkōną", meaning "to see". It is related to the Middle Low German "lūken" and the Middle Dutch "lūken", both of which also meant "to look".
The term "through" is derived from the Middle English word "thoruh", which was a variation of the Old English word "þurh". "Þurh" can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "*thurkh", which indicates "through" or "across".