Definition of look into

The origin of the phrase "look into" can be traced back to the Middle English period, during the 14th century. The Old English word "inlācan" (meaning "peep in") is the root of the modern English verb "look into". By the time Middle English was spoken, the phrase had evolved to "loke yn", which originally meant "to glance in the direction of" or "to catch a glimpse of". The two separate words "look" and "into" were united over time as the preposition "into" began to usually appear after "look" in actual usage. This phase likely emerged due to the increasing necessity of efficient and fast communication as the English language evolved, as the new phrase offered a more straightforward and concise alternative to the earlier "look yn". Though the literal meaning of the phrase has not significantly altered over time, "look into" has gained a few more figurative uses, enabling it to convey a variety of meanings beyond "peeping" or "gazing". It can now also be used to suggest investigating or examining, as in "I'll look into that for you" or "She looked into the matter thoroughly". In summary, the origin of "look into" stems from Old English, but the phrase's modern meaning has developed throughout centuries of language usage, resulting in its present-day multiplicity of interpretations.