tu: before a
vowel emphat.
prep. & adv. --prep. 1 introducing a
noun: a expressing
what is reached, approached, or touched (fell to
the ground;
went to Paris; put
her face to the
window;
five minutes to six). b expressing what is aimed
at:
often introducing the
indirect object of a
verb (throw it to
me; explained the
problem to them). c as
far as; up to (went on to the
end;
have to stay
from Tuesday to Friday). d to the
extent of (were
all drunk to a
man;
was starved to death). e expressing what is followed (according to instructions;
made to order). f expressing what is considered or
affected (am used to
that; that is
nothing to me). g expressing what is caused or produced (turn to
stone; tear to shreds). h expressing what is compared (nothing to what it
once was;
comparable to
any other;
equal to the
occasion;
won by
three goals to two). i expressing what is increased (add it to mine). j expressing what is involved or composed as specified (there is nothing to
it;
more to
him than meets the eye). k expressing the
substance of a
debit entry in
accounting (to
four chairs,
sixty pounds). l
archaic for; by
way of (took her to wife). 2 introducing the
infinitive: a as a
verbal noun (to
get there is the priority). b expressing
purpose,
consequence, or
cause (we
eat to live; left him to
starve; am
sorry to
hear that). c as a
substitute for to + infinitive (wanted to
come but was
unable to). --adv. 1 in the
normal or required
position or
condition (come to;
heave to). 2 (of a door) in a
nearly closed position. øto
and fro 1
backwards and
forwards. 2 repeatedly
between the
same points. [OE to (adv. & prep.) f. WG]