Exhaustive

/ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/ adjective

Definition

Extremely thorough and comprehensive, covering all possible options or aspects completely.

Etymology

From Latin 'exhaustus,' past participle of 'exhaurire' meaning 'to draw out completely' - 'ex' (out) + 'haurire' (to draw, drain). Originally referred to draining water completely from a vessel.

Kelly Says

The word perfectly captures its meaning through its etymology - just as you might exhaust a well by drawing out every last drop of water, an exhaustive study draws out every possible detail or angle. Computer scientists use 'exhaustive search' to describe algorithms that check every single possibility, which can take astronomical amounts of time.

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