pore

Meanings

Noun

• A tiny opening in the skin.
• By extension any small opening or interstice, especially one of many, or one allowing the passage of a fluid.

Verb

• to study meticulously; to go over again and again.
• to meditate or reflect in a steady way.

Origin

• From Middle English pore, from Old French pore, from Latin porus, from Ancient Greek πόρος. Displaced native and līcþēote.
• From Middle English poren, pouren, puren, from Old English *purian, suggested by Old English spyrian ("to investigate, examine"). Akin to Middle Dutch poren ("to pore, look"), Dutch porren ("to poke, prod, stir, encourage, endeavour, attempt"), Low German purren ("to poke, stir"), Danish purre ("to poke, stir, rouse"), dialectal Swedish pora, pura, påra, Old English spor ("track, trace, vestige"). Compare also Middle English puren, piren. See peer.