The word 以至于 is formed through the logical fusion of two classical components: 以, which establishes a basis or means ("by this"), and 至于, which marks a point of arrival or extent ("reaching to"). Their combination creates a single conceptual unit that charts a progression from an initial fact or action to its culminating, often extreme or consequential, outcome. It visually and logically maps a path from a starting point, across a implied chain of causation or degree, to an ultimate end point.