† descryn.
Obsolete.
1. A battle cry; = ascry n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > battle or a battle > battle-cry or slogan
descryc1450
ensign1487
escry1489
senyea1510
slogan1513
cry1548
larum1555
hubbaboo1596
field wordc1625
celeusma1680
tecbir1708
war-whoop1739
war cry1748
scalp yell1792
banner-cry1810
battle-cry1815
battle-word1815
hurrah1841
rebel yell1862
on-cry1899
c1450 (?a1400) Duke Rowland & Sir Otuell (1880) l. 1476 (MED) ‘Mount Ioye’ was þaire discrye.
2. The action or an act of discovering or catching sight of something or someone; the fact of being discovered.In quot. 1604: a warning that an enemy has been sighted.Quot. 1608 has been variously interpreted, but perhaps refers to a sighting of the main body of troops.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > [noun] > from afar
descrying1548
descry1604
descrial1606
1604 J. Hanson Time is Turne-coate 50 Trecherous Centinels raise false descries.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xx. 204 Edg. But by your fauour how neers the other army. Gent.Neere and on speed fort the maine descryes, Standst on the howerly thoughts.
1609 D. Price Sauls Prohibition Staide sig. F2 When the descry of the Indians, was offered to that learned and famous Prince Henry the seuenth [etc.].
1612 J. Speed Theatre of Empire of Great Brit. x. i. 891/2 The lodging roomes..freely might bee entred Without danger of descry.
1658 C. Gilbert Soveraign Antidote 20 Will not you give your watchmen the hearing, on the descry of a dreadful enemy?
1680 R. Bryan Prophetick Demonstr. Passages Mistery of Observable Predict. State of Reynelus & Romulus iv. 18 Such Wolf time will bewray Who though a Wolf, he thus be inwardly Yet in Sheeps-skin, is clad from their discry By Sheepheards.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
descryv.1
/dᵻˈskrʌɪ/, U.S. /dəˈskraɪ/, /diˈskraɪ/ I. To catch sight of, observe, discover.† 3. transitive. To investigate (a matter, situation, etc.); to spy out (a place). Obsolete.
1. transitive. To catch sight of, esp. from a distance. In early use frequently: spec. (of a scout or sentinel) to espy (an approaching enemy). Now chiefly literary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > succeed in seeing or catch sight of
underyetec1000
aspya1250
kenc1275
ofyetec1275
choosea1300
akenc1300
descrivec1300
ofkenc1300
readc1300
espyc1320
descryc1330
spyc1380
discernc1405
discover1553
scan1558
scry1558
decern1559
describe1574
to make out1575
escry1581
interview1587
display1590
to set sight of (in)c1595
sight1602
discreevec1650
glance1656
to catch a glimpse of1679
steal1731
oversee1735
glimpse1779
twig1796
to clap eyes on1838
spot1848
sky1900
c1330 (?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch.) in J. Zupitza Guy of Warwick (1891) 647 (MED) Wel stoutliche þe king gan fiȝte..Heraud he gan discrie.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 81 Þe comlokest [lady] to discrye.
a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1055 (MED) xij. fosters dyscryed hym then, That were kepars of that fee.
1569 T. Stocker tr. Diodorus Siculus Hist. Successors Alexander iii. viii. 114 He might descry a mightie and terrible Nauie..sayling towards the citie.
1605 Famous Hist. Capt. Stukeley sig. D2v The English Sentinells do keepe good watch, if they descry us all our labours lost.
1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote lxiii. 436 Ouernight we descried this wharfe.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World iii. 44 In the morning we descryed a Sail off at Sea.
1723 R. Blackmore Alfred iii. 71 Now Halla, casting round his searching Eye, Did at a Distance from the Crowd descry The British Pair.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. iii. 38 In some woodland height descrying A serpent huge.
1844 Queen Victoria Jrnl. 21 Sept. (1868) 39 To meet Albert, whom I descried coming towards us.
1877 W. Black Green Pastures (1878) xxxiii. 267 At intervals we descried a maple.
1914 Forum July 575 Then, along the lane, he suddenly descried a group of children.
2009 M. Wickert tr. T. Tasso Liberation of Jerusalem xv. 281 At the mountain's bottom, the two knights descry a shady nook and make camp for the night.
2. † b. transitive. To distinguish (one thing) from another thing. Also intransitive: to distinguish between things. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To discover or perceive (a person, thing, fact, etc.), esp. by careful observation; to detect, discern, observe. Also occasionally intransitive. Now chiefly literary.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > perceive [verb (transitive)]
acknowOE
keepc1000
feelOE
findOE
seeOE
yknowc1275
apperceivec1300
descrivec1300
knowc1300
perceivec1330
taste1340
tellc1390
catcha1398
scenta1398
devisea1400
kena1400
concernc1425
descrya1450
henta1450
apprehend1577
scerne1590
to take in1637
discreevec1650
recognize1795
absorb1840
embrace1852
cognizea1856
cognosce1874
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > find out, discover [verb (transitive)] > by perception or observation
seeOE
wita1300
descrivec1300
descrya1450
spyc1515
to see into ——1565
scerne1590
guard1636
discreevec1650
spot1848
embrace1852
sniff1864
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 2266 (MED) God to me hath sent..bothe wyt, mynde, and memorye alle manere of thinges to discrye.
a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 783 Hors and man felle down..And sone he was dyscryed.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 491 b There is no man..that will not easily descry..want of Judgement..in you.
1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (xxxiv. Paraphr.) 181 Being by them descryed to be David.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 290 To descry new Lands, Rivers or Mountains in her spotty Globe. View more context for this quotation
1670 J. Narborough Jrnl. in Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) 33 I could not see any sign of People..but still Hills and Vallies as far as we could descry.
1729 T. Stackhouse Compl. Body Divinity i. iv. 54 [The People's constant Study of the Old Testament] cou'd not but make them competent Judges of the Law, and enable them to descry any Change or bold Innovation, that should..creep into it.
1797 R. Southey Ballad King Charlemain 1 All but the Monarch could plainly descry From whence came her white and her red.
1812 J. Wilson Isle of Palms ii. 582 He can descry That she is not afraid.
1862 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 3) xvi. 249 The bounds which separated that school from Romanism were very difficult to descry.
1921 G. V. Hobart Idle Moments in Florida 40 In each eye I could descry Ages and ages of despair.
1991 J. Ashbery Flow Chart vi. 195 When you next see me..you'll descry in me a note of alarming mildness.
2004 R. Dawkins Ancestor's Tale 493 An opportunity to sweep over the whole course of evolution..and see what patterns we can descry.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > discern, discriminate [verb (intransitive)]
winnowc1175
deem1340
knowa1398
discerna1413
perceive1495
descry1582
distinguish1612
discriminate1645
difference1646
differentiate1855
discrepate1894
1582 T. Watson Ἑκατομπαθία: Passionate Cent. Loue lxxxvii. sig. L4 The wisedome of my hart shall soone descrie Each thing thats good, from what deserueth blame.
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 183 Thou canst descry the finest flower from the coursest branne, or the sweetest creame from the sowrest whey.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island viii. viii. 108 Pure Essence, who hast made a stone descrie 'Twixt natures hid.
1683 W. Soames tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Art of Poetry i. 12 Lay by an Author's Pride and Vanity, And from a Friend a Flatterer descry.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > investigate, examine [verb (transitive)]
underseekc897
speerc900
lookeOE
askOE
seeOE
teem witnessc1200
seeka1300
fand13..
inquirec1300
undergoc1315
visit1338
pursuea1382
searcha1382
examinec1384
assay1387
ensearchc1400
vesteyea1425
to have in waitc1440
perpend1447
to bring witnessc1475
vey1512
investigate?1520
recounta1530
to call into (also in) question1534
finger1546
rip1549
sight1556
vestigatea1561
to look into ——1561
require1563
descry?1567
sound1579
question1590
resolve1593
surview1601
undersearch1609
sift1611
disquire1621
indagate1623
inspect1623
pierce1640
shrive1647
in-looka1649
probe1649
incern1656
quaeritate1657
inquisite1674
reconnoitre1740
explore1774
to bring to book1786
look-see1867
scrutate1882
to shake down1915
sleuth1939
screen1942
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter xvii. 32 Let thy good eye: my cause discrye, for thée my iudge I make.
1611 Bible (King James) Judges i. 23 The house of Ioseph sent to descry Bethel. View more context for this quotation
1619 M. Drayton Legend Pierce Gaueston in Poems (new ed.) 357 He had iudicially descryde The cause.
1742 W. Shenstone School-mistress xii Right well she knew each Temper to descry.
1901 S. P. M. Greene Flood-tide vi. 36 As I turned to descry the situation, I found myself facing the pair in the lane.
II. To announce, make known.† 4.
a. transitive. To announce, proclaim, declare; to say publicly or openly. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > announcing or proclaiming > announce or proclaim [verb (transitive)]
kithec725
i-bedea800
abedeeOE
bid971
deemOE
bodea1000
tellOE
clepec1275
to tell outa1382
denouncec1384
publishc1384
descryc1390
pronouncec1390
proclaima1393
sound1412
proclaim?a1425
renouncea1425
announcec1429
preconize?1440
announce1483
reclaim?1503
call1523
to speak forth1526
annunciate1533
protest1533
to breathe out1535
denouncec1540
enact1611
deblazon1621
deblaze1640
advise1647
apostolize1652
indigitatea1670
enounce1807
voice1850
norate1851
enunciate1864
post1961
c1390 (c1350) Proprium Sanctorum in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1888) 81 92 ‘Mi lord, Mi God!’ he seide an hiȝ; þat was þus muche to discri: God of pite..And lord of Dampnaciun also.
?a1425 in D. Knoop & G. P. Jones Mediæval Mason (1933) 266 (MED) Hyt dyscryeth wel opunly: ‘Thou schalnot by thy maystres wyf ly.’
c1450 (a1425) Metrical Paraphr. Old Test. (Selden) l. 1010 (MED) Or we passe, is gud ther dedes forto dyscrye Of the eldyst brothyr.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxii. 270 My name to you will I dyscry.
1556 T. Sternhold in T. Sternhold et al. One & Fiftie Psalmes xxv. 59 in Forme of Prayers Geneua Thy right wayes vnto me lorde discry.
1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome i. f. 8 They laugh and with a rowting noyse, their greefe they plaine discrye.
1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) i. ii. i. i. 36 At length Iupiter discryed himselfe, and Hercules yeelded.
1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. vii. 32 Diogenes, thou.., Who to content the ready way To following Ages didst descry.
b. transitive. spec. To announce (something) as a herald or messenger. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > announcing or proclaiming > announce or proclaim [verb (transitive)] > as a herald
descrivec1300
descrya1450
avant-courier1870
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xiii. l. 678 (MED) Of..his Chevalrye It were I-nowgh An herowde to driscrye [read discrye].
c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) l. 927 (MED) Taborus and trompours, Herawdes, goode descouerou[r]s, Har strokes gon descrye.
a1500 (a1400) Sir Eglamour (Cambr.) (1844) l. 1178 Harowdes of armes than they wente, For to dyscrye thys turnayment In eche londys ȝende.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 279 Now the Herald Lark Left his ground-nest, high towring to descry The morns approach. View more context for this quotation
5. † a. transitive. To disclose treacherously (something confidential); to reveal, betray (a secret). Also (and later chiefly): to be the agency or means by which (a secret, a hidden person, etc.) is discovered or revealed. Cf. discover v. 1. Obsolete.With quot. 1794 compare sense 5b(b).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > secrets > prejudicially
wraya1300
bewrayc1386
descrya1400
blab1594
betray1598
sell1831
peach1852
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 7136 Þat was a greet folye hir lordes counsel to discrye.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1932) III. l. 20881 (MED) That to non Man ȝe me discrye, this of Suraunce ȝe scholen me affye.
c1560 (a1500) Squyr Lowe Degre (Copland) l. 110 Thy counsayl shall I never dyscry.
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. R3 That he be not descride by his alleadging of Authors.
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 90 Hee had like to have descried them [sc. his parents] with his wrawling.
1608 Bp. J. Hall Epist. II. iv. viii. 190 In notorious burglairies, oft times there is..a weapon left behinde, which descrieth the authors.
1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. ii. 87 His Purple Robe he [sc. Alectus] had thrown aside, lest it should descry him.
1794 B. Rhodes Hymns & Divine Songs Young Persons 95 Great day—that shall descry To every wondering eye The secret deeds of day and night!
b. Without implication of injurious revelation: to make visible or apparent; spec.† (a) transitive. Of a physical characteristic: to indicate, be evidence of (a quality, feeling, etc.). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. x. sig. Kv Whose sober lookes her wisedome well descryde.
a1649 W. Drummond Wks. (1711) 140 His Cheeks scarce with a small Down descrying his Sex.
1656 A. Cowley Davideis iv. 128 in Poems A thoughtful Ey That more of Care then Passion did descry.
(b) transitive. Of light: to reveal (something previously unseen or obscure). Now chiefly literary.In later use perhaps viewed as an extended use of sense 2a.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]
unwryc825
unhelec1000
to draw forthc1175
unhillc1200
to bring forth?c1225
unsteekc1250
let witc1275
uncovera1300
wraya1300
knowc1300
barea1325
shrivec1374
unwrapc1374
again-covera1382
nakena1382
outc1390
tellc1390
disclosea1393
cough1393
unhidea1400
unclosec1400
unhaspc1400
bewrayc1405
reveal1409
accusea1413
reveil1424
unlocka1425
unrekec1425
disclude?1440
uncurec1440
utter1444
detect1447
break1463
expose1483
divinec1500
revelate1514
to bring (also put) to light1526
decipher1529
rake1547
rip1549
unshadow1550
to lay to sight1563
uppen1565
unlace1567
unvisor?1571
resign1572
uncloak1574
disshroud1577
spill1577
reap1578
unrip1579
scour1585
unharboura1586
unmask1586
uncase1587
descrya1591
unclasp?1592
unrive1592
discover1594
unburden1594
untomb1594
unhusk1596
dismask1598
to open upc1600
untruss1600
divulge1602
unshale1606
unbrace1607
unveil1609
rave1610
disveil1611
unface1611
unsecret1612
unvizard1620
to open up1624
uncurtain1628
unscreen1628
unbare1630
disenvelop1632
unclothe1632
to lay forth1633
unshroud1633
unmuffle1637
midwife1638
dissecret1640
unseal1640
unmantle1643
to fetch out1644
undisguise1655
disvelop1658
decorticate1660
clash1667
exert1692
disinter1711
to up with1715
unbundlea1739
develop1741
disembosom1745
to open out1814
to let out1833
unsack1846
uncrown1849
to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861
unfrock1866
disbosom1868
to blow the lid off1928
flush1950
surface1955
to take or pull the wraps off1964
a1591 H. Smith 6 Serm. (1592) 70 Christ is light, and let none be afraid to seeke this light which..doth not onelie descrie it selfe, but al other things round about it.
a1661 R. Bargrave Trav. Diary (1999) 167 We..went by water to Harlum, a faire City, trenchd and walld, resembling (as moonlight descried it to us) Amsterdam in litle.
1870 G. Field Poems & Ess. 49 Let simple shade prevail And truth suffice, while inner light descries The even path, where myths no more can rise.
1989 L. Clarke Chymical Wedding (1990) v. 98 It was hard not to admire the way the window light descried the tawny variations of her hair.
2012 S. T. Russell Take, burn or Destroy ii. 21 Immediately, the lanterns were extinguished, faint moonlight descrying uncertain shapes upon the deck.
III. Senses corresponding to ascry v. and decry v.† 6. transitive. To challenge to a fight; to taunt; = ascry v. 1b. Obsolete.† 8. transitive. To proclaim (a type of coin, currency, etc.) to be no longer legal tender. Cf. decry v. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > [verb (transitive)] > challenge to hostilities
excitea1340
defyc1380
descryc1400
provoke1477
c1400 Brut (Rawl. B. 171) 220 Þe gentil knyghtes fledden on euery side, and þe ribaudes and vileins egrely ham descriede, and criede in hye, ‘ȝelde ȝow, traitoures!’
a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 5976 Bassian he gan defye, & wiþ foule wordes hym descrie [?a1400 Petyt ascrie].
c1450 (?a1400) Duke Rowland & Sir Otuell (1880) l. 273 No kyng in Cristyante Dare..discrye hym þer with steuen.
7. transitive. To denounce, censure; to rebuke, criticize; = decry v. 2.Quot. c1450 may instead show sense 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > disparagement or depreciation > disparage or depreciate [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
low1340
dispraisec1386
minish1402
deroge1427
detractc1449
descryc1450
detrayc1475
dismerit1484
decline1509
vilipend1509
disprize?1518
disable1528
derogatea1530
elevate1541
disparagea1556
detrect1563
debase1565
demerit1576
vilify1586
disgrace1589
detracta1592
besparage1592
enervate1593
obtrect1595
extenuate1601
disvalue1605
disparagon1610
undervalue1611
avile1615
debaucha1616
to cry down1616
debate1622
decry1641
atomize1645
underrate1646
naucify1653
dedignify1654
stuprate1655
de-ample1657
dismagn1657
slur1660
voguec1661
depreciate1666
to run down1671
baffle1674
lacken1674
sneer1706
diminish1712
substract1728
down1780
belittle1789
carbonify1792
to speak scorn of1861
to give one a back-cap1903
minoritize1947
mauvais langue1952
rubbish1953
down-talk1959
marginalize1970
marginate1970
trash1975
neg1987
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 129 (MED) A yong man gatt a non with child, and he was..so ferd at he sulde be descried þat he had done suche a truspas..þat he went vnto ane abbay of a strayte ordur.
?a1500 in W. G. Henderson Manuale et Processionale Ecclesiæ Eboracensis (1875) p. xvi We curse and descry..all thos that this illys hase done.
1602 J. Colville Parænese Ep. Ded. sig. eiij Suppose you suld discry me to the hoill vorld and viss all men dishant my cumpany.
1847 Let. 8 July in Chicago River-&-Harbor Convent. (1882) 143 If to be a partisan and to be a thief had been synonimous, Party could hardly have been more studiously descried and reprobated.
?a1900 M. L. Hoffman Poems (1907) 322 Will ye thoughtlessly upbraid them and their ignorance descry?
1918 Charlotte (N. Carolina) Med. Jrnl. 78 216/2 It is not the purpose of this paper to advise against paying attention to constipation,..it is simply to descry the use of laxatives and purgatives.
2003 Daily Tel. 24 Mar. 22 We Brits just don't seem to do nationalism as well as the Irish, often having a worrying predilection to descry the more despicable aspects of the creed.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > value of money > [verb (transitive)] > reduce value
lowa1513
embase1551
falsify1562
deprave1581
delay1586
debase1602
descry1602
decry1617
depreciate1656
discredit1721
devalue1918
devalorize1925
1602 S. Patrick tr. J. de Hainault Estate of Church 588 The Elector Palatin, stayed in his hands a great sum of money descried [Fr. monnoye descriee] in the country of the Empire, which was going vnto the Duke of Alua into Flaunders.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. iii. i. 217 The vse of all monies descried may be taken away..and withall sterling money, may bee brought into our Exchange.
1651 T. Violet Advancem. Merchandize 70 The Parlament, by their Ordinance 6 of Sept. 1647. did descrie all Clipped, Filed, or diminished Monie.
1724 ‘A. Firebrass’ Let. from Quaker-Mercht. 11 [The] Lord Deputy of Ireland, received from the Lords Directions to descry the Silver Money, and to proclaim a new Coin Three Ounces fine.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† descryv.2
Obsolete.
transitive. To give a description of; to describe. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > narration > description or act of describing > describe [verb (transitive)]
sayOE
devisec1300
readc1300
to make (a) showing ofc1330
counterfeitc1369
expressc1386
scrievec1390
descrya1400
scrya1400
drawa1413
representc1425
describec1450
report1460
qualify?1465
exhibit1534
perscribe1538
to set out1545
deline1566
delineate1566
decipher1567
denotate1599
lineate16..
denote1612
givea1616
inform?1615
to shape out1633
speaka1637
display1726
to hit off1737
society > communication > writing > manner of writing > copying or transcribing > copy or transcribe [verb (transitive)]
descrivea1382
copy1387
descrya1400
take1418
describea1513
exemplify1542
transcribe1552
escribe1558
copy1563
transcript1593
exscribe1608
transcrive1665
scriven1742
autograph1829
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 11621 (MED) Dauyd seyþ..‘Myn owne lyfe, lorde, y haue þe shewed; None ouþer mannes y wyl dyscrye.’
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 6546 (MED) Cuthbert þai chese as bede descryse.
a1566 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) Prol. sig. Aii A thinge once donne in deede as Hystories doo discrie.
1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie ii. f. 63v This Serpente I haue descried, as wringled into a wreathe.
1613 G. Wither Abuses Stript i. Occas. sig. B8 He..descries Elenchi, full of subtile falacies.
1767 L. Stamma Kellyad 11 A something more than I can well descry, Plays round the heart, and sparkles in the eye.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.c1450
v.1c1330v.2a1400