Definition of look at

The origin of the phrase "look at" can be traced back to Old English, where it was expressed as "gehān" or "ætġān." These words literally meant "gaze at" or "regard," and they were derived from the Old English preposition "ge-" (meaning "towards") and the Old English word "hān" (meaning "to behold" or "to see"). In Middle English, the phrase "loke whetre" (meaning "look where") became popular, and it was used instead of "gehān" or "ætġān." This phrase later evolved into the modern English phrase "look at," which is comprised of the Old English verb "lācan" (meaning "to see") and the Old English preposition "at." The use of "look at" to mean "pay attention to" or "consider" is a more recent development, but it has become quite common in modern English. This usage appears to have originated as a figurative extension of the literal meaning of "look at," as people began to use the phrase to encourage others to pay close attention or to acknowledge the significance of something.