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Webster 1913 Edition
Threshold
Thresh′old
,Noun.
[OE.
threswold
, þreshwold
, AS. þrescwald
, þerscwald
, þerscold
, þrescold
, fr. þrescan
, þerscan
, to thresh; akin to Icel. þreskjöde
, þröskuldr
, Sw. tröskel
, Dan. tærskel
. See Thrash
.] 1.
The plank, stone, or piece of timber, which lies under a door, especially of a dwelling house, church, temple, or the like; the doorsill; hence, entrance; gate; door.
2.
Fig.: The place or point of entering or beginning, entrance; outset;
as, the
. threshold
of life