THUMBED THROUGH Meaning and
Definition
-
"Thumbed through" refers to the act of quickly flipping through a book, magazine, or any kind of printed material by using one's thumb to turn the pages. The term implies a casual or cursory examination of the content, as opposed to an in-depth or thorough reading. When someone thumbs through a publication, they typically skim over the pages, pausing briefly on certain sections or pages that catch their attention.
The phrase suggests a brisk and somewhat haphazard manner of browsing, with the pages being turned rapidly and not necessarily in any particular order. As the action is performed with the thumb, it suggests a casual, effortless, and often absent-minded approach to reading. Thumbing through material is often done to get a general sense of its contents, to find a specific piece of information, or simply to pass the time.
Thumbing through can be likened to scanning or flicking, but with a terrestrial, tactile quality due to the physical interaction with the pages. The act of thumbing through often produces a distinct sound, which can be reminiscent of the rustling of paper or the quick flicking of cards. This action is commonly employed in libraries, bookstores, or homes when individuals want to preview or familiarize themselves with a text before deciding to read it in more detail.
Common Misspellings for THUMBED THROUGH
- rhumbed through
- fhumbed through
- ghumbed through
- yhumbed through
- 6humbed through
- 5humbed through
- tgumbed through
- tbumbed through
- tnumbed through
- tjumbed through
- tuumbed through
- tyumbed through
- thymbed through
- thhmbed through
- thjmbed through
- thimbed through
- th8mbed through
- th7mbed through
- thunbed through
- thukbed through
Etymology of THUMBED THROUGH
The word "thumbed" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "thumb". In this context, "thumb" refers to the action of turning the pages of a book or magazine by using one's thumb.
The etymology of "thumb" can be traced back to Old English, where it was known as "thuma", related to Dutch "duim" and German "Daumen". All these ancient Germanic languages have a common root in Proto-Germanic "*þumô", which is also believed to have derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*tum-".
Essentially, the term "thumbed" implies the action of flipping through the pages using one's thumb, which has been in use for a long time and has a longstanding historical and linguistic background.
