soughtthrough

Soughtthrough is a neologism used in informal English to describe a deliberate, comprehensive search or inquiry that proceeds through multiple sources or steps until a result is reached. It emphasizes thoroughness and continuity in the information-gathering process.

Origin and attestation: The coinage appears in online prose and discussions in the late 2010s and early 2020s. It is not included in standard dictionaries, and its spelling varies. Writers may render it as a single word (soughtthrough), hyphenated (sought-through), or as the two-word phrase sought through. Usage tends to be situational and stylistic rather than grammatical.

Usage and forms: The term is typically used as an adjective or attributive descriptor, as in a soughtthrough investigation or a soughtthrough approach to problem solving. It can appear in more experimental writing as well. Because it is not widely standardized, authors should define its meaning when first used to avoid ambiguity. Example sentences include: The team conducted a soughtthrough review of the archives; the journalist adopted a soughtthrough approach, cross-checking interviews, documents, and public records.

Relation to related concepts: Soughtthrough aligns with ideas of thorough search, systematic reviews, and information-seeking behavior, signaling a mode of inquiry that prioritizes cross-source verification and persistent digging. It shares space with terms like deep dive and systematic inquiry but carries a nuance of continuous, throughgoing searching across sources rather than a single, isolated step. As a niche or experimental term, its longevity will depend on broader adoption and clarity in future usage.