To

• POS: Preposition, Adverb

CIDE DICTIONARY

To, prep. [AS. tō; akin to OS. & OFries. tō, D. toe, G. zu, OHG. zuo, zua, zō, Russ. do, Ir. & Gael. do, OL. -do, -du, as in endo, indu, in, Gr. , as in homeward. √200. Cf. Too, Tatoo a beat of drums.].

•  The preposition to primarily indicates approach and arrival, motion made in the direction of a place or thing and attaining it, access; and also, motion or tendency without arrival; movement toward; -- opposed to from.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

  "Stay with us, go not to Wittenberg."  [1913 Webster]

  "So to the sylvan lodge
  They came, that like Pomona's arbor smiled."  [1913 Webster]

  "I'll to him again, . . .
  He'll tell me all his purpose.
  She stretched her arms to heaven."  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, it indicates motion, course, or tendency toward a time, a state or condition, an aim, or anything capable of being regarded as a limit to a tendency, movement, or action; as, he is going to a trade; he is rising to wealth and honor.  [1913 Webster]

  " Formerly, by omission of the verb denoting motion, to sometimes followed a form of be, with the sense of at, or in. “When the sun was [gone or declined] to rest.” Chaucer."  [1913 Webster]
•  In a very general way, and with innumerable varieties of application, to connects transitive verbs with their remoter or indirect object, and adjectives, nouns, and neuter or passive verbs with a following noun which limits their action. Its sphere verges upon that of for, but it contains less the idea of design or appropriation; as, these remarks were addressed to a large audience; let us keep this seat to ourselves; a substance sweet to the taste; an event painful to the mind; duty to God and to our parents; a dislike to spirituous liquor.  [1913 Webster]

  "Marks and points out each man of us to slaughter."  [1913 Webster]

  "Whilst they, distilled
  Almost to jelly with the act of fear,
  Stand dumb and speak not to him."  [1913 Webster]

  "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."  [1913 Webster]

  "I have a king's oath to the contrary."  [1913 Webster]

  "Numbers were crowded to death."  [1913 Webster]

  "Fate and the dooming gods are deaf to tears."  [1913 Webster]

  "Go, buckle to the law."  [1913 Webster]
•  As sign of the infinitive, to had originally the use of last defined, governing the infinitive as a verbal noun, and connecting it as indirect object with a preceding verb or adjective; thus, ready to go, i.e., ready unto going; good to eat, i.e., good for eating; I do my utmost to lead my life pleasantly. But it has come to be the almost constant prefix to the infinitive, even in situations where it has no prepositional meaning, as where the infinitive is direct object or subject; thus, I love to learn, i.e., I love learning; to die for one's country is noble, i.e., the dying for one's country. Where the infinitive denotes the design or purpose, good usage formerly allowed the prefixing of for to the to; as, what went ye out for see? (Matt. xi. 8).  [1913 Webster]

  "Such usage is now obsolete or illiterate. In colloquial usage, to often stands for, and supplies, an infinitive already mentioned; thus, he commands me to go with him, but I do not wish to."  [1913 Webster]

  "Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages,
  And palmers for to seeken strange stranders."  [1913 Webster]
•  In many phrases, and in connection with many other words, to has a pregnant meaning, or is used elliptically.  [1913 Webster]

  " To, without an object expressed, is used adverbially; as, put to the door, i. e., put the door to its frame, close it; and in the nautical expressions, to heave to, to come to, meaning to a certain position. To, like on, is sometimes used as a command, forward, set to. “To, Achilles! to, Ajax! to!” Shak."  [1913 Webster]

  "We ready are to try our fortunes
  To the last man."  [1913 Webster]

  "Few of the Esquimaux can count to ten."  [1913 Webster]

  "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face."  [1913 Webster]

  "He to God's image, she to his was made."  [1913 Webster]

  "All that they did was piety to this."  [1913 Webster]

  "Wisdom he has, and to his wisdom, courage."  [1913 Webster]

  "Anon they move
  In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
  Of flutes and soft recorders."  [1913 Webster]

  "Made his masters and others . . . to consider him to a little wonder."  [1913 Webster]

  "To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow;
  Creeps in this petty pace from day to day."  [1913 Webster]

  "There was great showing both to and fro."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

To, 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.

Idiom

to and fro
1 backwards and forwards.
2 repeatedly between the same points.

Etymology

OE to (adv. & prep.) f. WG

THESAURUS

To

against, as far as, en route to, for, headed for, in, in consideration of, in contemplation of, in order to, in passage to, in transit to, into, on, on route to, over against, so, so as to, so that, till, toward, towards, until, unto, up, up to, upon, versus

ROGET THESAURUS

To

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Completion

VB effect, effectuate, accomplish, achieve, compass, consummate, hammer out, bring to maturity, bring to perfection, perfect, complete, elaborate, do, execute, make, go through, get through, work out, enact, bring about, bring to bear, bring to pass, bring through, bring to a head, despatch, dispatch, knock off, finish off, polish off, make short work of, dispose of, set at rest, perform, discharge, fulfill, realize, put in practice, put in force, carry out, carry into effect, carry into execution, make good, be as good as one's word, do thoroughly, not do by halves, go the whole hog, drive home, be in at the death, carry through, play out, exhaust, fill the bill, finish, bring to a close, wind up, stamp, clinch, seal, set the seal on, put the seal, give the final touch, to, put the last, put the finishing hand to, put the finishing touches on, crown, crown all, cap, ripen, culminate, come to a head, come to a crisis, come to its end, die a natural death, die of old age, run its course, run one's race, touch the goal, reach the goal, attain the goal, reach, get in the harvest.

Prosperity

VB prosper, thrive, flourish, be prosperous, drive a roaring trade, do a booming business, go on well, go on smoothly, go on swimmingly, sail before the wind, swim with the tide, run smooth, run smoothly, run on all fours, rise in the world, get on in the world, work one's way, make one's way, look up, lift one's head, raise one's head, make one's fortune, feather one's nest, make one's pile, flower, blow, blossom, bloom, fructify, bear fruit, fatten, keep oneself afloat, keep one's head above water, hold one's head above water, land on one's feet, light on one's feet, light on one's legs, fall on one's legs, fall on one's feet, drop into a good thing, bear a charmed life, bask in the sunshine, have a good time of it, have a fine time of it, have a run of luck, have the good fortune, to, take a favorable turn, live on the fat of the land, live off the fat of the land, live in clover.

Freedom

VB be free, have scope, have the run of, have one's own way, have a will of one's own, have one's fling, do what one likes, do what one wishes, do what one pleases, do what one chooses, go at large, feel at home, paddle one's own canoe, stand on one's legs, stand on one's rights, shift for oneself, take a liberty, make free with, make oneself quite at home, use a freedom, take leave, take French leave, set free, give a loose to, allow scope, to, give scope, to, give a horse his head, make free of, give the freedom of, give the franchise, enfranchise, affranchise, laisser faire, laisser aller, live and let live, leave to oneself, leave alone, let alone, be free, have scope, have the run of, have one's own way, have a will of one's own, have one's fling, do what one likes, do what one wishes, do what one pleases, do what one chooses, go at large, feel at home, paddle one's own canoe, stand on one's legs, stand on one's rights, shift for oneself, take a liberty, make free with, make oneself quite at home, use a freedom, take leave, take French leave, set free, give a loose to, allow scope, to, give scope, to, give a horse his head, make free of, give the freedom of, give the franchise, enfranchise, affranchise, laisser faire, laisser aller, live and let live, leave to oneself, leave alone, let alone.

Cause

VB be the cause of, originate, give origin to, give rise, to, give occasion to, cause, occasion, sow the seeds of, kindle, suscitate, bring on, bring to bring pass, bring about, produce, create, set up, set afloat, set on foot, found, broach, institute, lay the foundation of, lie at the root of, procure, induce, draw down, open the door to, superinduce, evoke, entail, operate, elicit, provoke, conduce to, contribute, have a hand in the pie, have a finger in the pie, determine, decide, turn the scale, have a common origin, derive its origin.

Disrepute

VB be inglorious, incur disgrace, have a bad name, earn a bad name, put a halter round one's neck, wear a halter round one's neck, disgrace oneself, expose oneself, play second fiddle, lose caste, pale one's ineffectual fire, recede into the shade, fall from one's high estate, keep in the background, be conscious of disgrace, look blue, look foolish, look like a fool, cut a poor figure, cut a sorry figure, laugh on the wrong side of the mouth, make a sorry face, go away with a flea in, one's ear, slink away, cause shame, shame, disgrace, put to shame, dishonor, throw dishonor upon, cast dishonor upon, fling dishonor upon, reflect dishonor upon, be a reproach, to, derogate from, tarnish, stain, blot sully, taint, discredit, degrade, debase, defile, beggar, expel, impute shame to, brand, post, stigmatize, vilify, defame, slur, cast a slur upon, hold up to shame, send to Coventry, tread under foot, trample under foot, show up, drag through the mire, heap dirt upon, reprehend, bring low, put down, snub, take down a peg, take down a peg lower, take down a peg or two, obscure, eclipse, outshine, take the shine out of, throw into the shade, cast into the shade, overshadow, leave in the background, put in the background, push into a corner, put one's nose out of joint, put out, put out of countenance, upset, throw off one's center, discompose, disconcert, put to the blush.

Dueness

VB be due, to, be the due, of, have right to, have title to, have claim to, be entitled to, have a claim upon, belong to, deserve, merit, be worthy of, richly deserve, demand, claim, call upon for, come upon for, appeal to for, revendicate, reclaim, exact, insist on, insist upon, challenge, take one's stand, make a point of, require, lay claim to, assert, assume, arrogate, make good, substantiate, vindicate a claim, vindicate a right, fit for, qualify for, make out a case, give a right, confer a right, entitle, authorize, sanctify, legalize, ordain, prescribe, allot, give every one his due, pay one's dues, have one's due, have one's rights, use a right, assert, enforce, put in force, lay under contribution.

Respect

VB respect, regard, revere, reverence, hold in reverence, honor, venerate, hallow, esteem, think much of, entertain respect for, bear respect for, look up to, defer to, have a high opinion of, hold a high opinion of, pay attention, pay respect, to, do honor to, render honor to, do the honors, hail, show courtesy, salute, present arms, do homage to, pay homage to, pay tribute to, kneel to, bow to, bend the knee to, fall down before, prostrate oneself, kiss the hem of one's garment, worship, keep one's distance, make room, observe due decorum, stand upon ceremony, command respect, inspire respect, awe, inspire awe, impose, overawe, dazzle.

Direction

N direction, management, managery, government, gubernation, conduct, legislation, regulation, guidance, bossism, legislature, steerage, pilotage, reins, reins of government, helm, rudder, needle, compass, guiding star, load star, lode star, pole star, cynosure, supervision, superintendence, surveillance, oversight, eye of the master, control, charge, board of control, command, premiership, senatorship, director, chair, portfolio, statesmanship, statecraft, kingcraft, queencraft, ministry, ministration, administration, stewardship, proctorship, agency, director, directing, hegemonic, at the helm, at the head of, direction, bearing, course, vector, set, drift, tenor, tendency, incidence, bending, trending, dip, tack, aim, collimation, steering steerage, point of the compass, cardinal points, North East, South, West, N by E, ENE, NE by N, NE, rhumb, azimuth, line of collimation, line, path, road, range, quarter, line of march, alignment, allignment, air line, beeline, straight shoot, directed, directed towards, pointing towards, bound for, aligned, with alligned with, direct, straight, undeviating, unswerving, straightforward, North, Northern, Northerly, towards, on the road, on the high road to, en avant, versus, to, hither, thither, whither, directly, straight as an arrow, forwards as an arrow, point blank, in a bee line to, in a direct line to, as the crow flies, in a straight line to, in a bee line for, in a direct line for, in a straight line for, in a bee line with, in a direct line with, in a straight line with, in a line with, full tilt at, as the crow flies, before the wind, near the wind, close to the wind, against the wind, windwards, in the wind's eye, through, via, by way of, in all directions, in all manner of ways, quaquaversum, from the four winds, the shortest distance between two points is a stra.