descry

1 of 2

verb

de·scry di-ˈskrī How to pronounce descry (audio)

descried; descrying

transitive verb

: to catch sight of

I descried a sail

Jonathan Swift

: find out, discover

obsolete : to make known : reveal

descry

2 of 2

noun

obsolete

: discovery or view from afar

Did you know?

With descry and the more common decry ("to express strong disapproval of"), we have a case of linguistic double-dipping. That is, English borrowed from the same French root twice. Both words ultimately come from the Old French verb decrier, meaning "to proclaim" or "to decry." English speakers borrowed the term as descry in the 14th century and used it to mean "to proclaim" or "to spy out from a distance" (as a watchman might), and eventually simply "to catch sight of" or "discover." Meanwhile, in French, decrier itself developed into the modern French décrier ("to disparage, to decry"). English speakers borrowed this word as decry in the 17th century. Be careful not to confuse descry and decry. They may be close relatives, but in modern English they have distinct meanings.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

in sense 1 Middle English descrien, descriven, descreven "to catch sight of, discover, discern," apparently developed from descriven (rarely descrien) "to describe, recount, characterize," borrowed from Anglo-French descrire, descriver, descrier "to describe, give an account of," going back to Latin dēscrībere "to represent by drawing, describe"; in sense 2 Middle English descrien "to announce, make known, reveal, betray," perhaps borrowed from Middle French descrier "to cry, make known," from des- de- + crier "to cry entry 1"

Note: The history of both semantic branches of this verb is difficult to characterize, given that the meanings of individual occurrences in Middle English are often not obvious and may overlap. Sense 2 is generally traced to Middle French, though evidence for the word in French texts is exiguous, and instances of this meaning contemporary with Middle English uses are lacking (see Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, on line). A putative descrier "to announce, proclaim" in the Grandes Chroniques de France (late 14th century) should be read descirer (modern déchirer) "to tear up" (referring to letters brought by Philip VI before the Parlement of Paris). There appears to be no connection of the Middle English word and Middle French descrier "to devalue, discredit," not attested before the 15th century (see decry).

Noun

derivative of descry entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1604, in the meaning defined above

单词	descried
释义	descry 1 of 2 verb de·scry di-ˈskrī descried; descrying transitive verb 1 a : to catch sight of I descried a sail Jonathan Swift b : find out, discover 2 obsolete : to make known : reveal descry 2 of 2 noun obsolete : discovery or view from afar Did you know? With descry and the more common decry ("to express strong disapproval of"), we have a case of linguistic double-dipping. That is, English borrowed from the same French root twice. Both words ultimately come from the Old French verb decrier, meaning "to proclaim" or "to decry." English speakers borrowed the term as descry in the 14th century and used it to mean "to proclaim" or "to spy out from a distance" (as a watchman might), and eventually simply "to catch sight of" or "discover." Meanwhile, in French, decrier itself developed into the modern French décrier ("to disparage, to decry"). English speakers borrowed this word as decry in the 17th century. Be careful not to confuse descry and decry. They may be close relatives, but in modern English they have distinct meanings. Synonyms Verb ascertain detect determine dig out dig up discover dredge (up) ferret (out) find find out get hit (on or upon) hunt (down or up) learn locate nose out root (out) rout (out) rummage run down scare up scout (up) track (down) turn up See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb we couldn't descry the reasons for his sudden departure could just descry the ship coming over the horizon Word History Etymology Verb in sense 1 Middle English descrien, descriven, descreven "to catch sight of, discover, discern," apparently developed from descriven (rarely descrien) "to describe, recount, characterize," borrowed from Anglo-French descrire, descriver, descrier "to describe, give an account of," going back to Latin dēscrībere "to represent by drawing, describe"; in sense 2 Middle English descrien "to announce, make known, reveal, betray," perhaps borrowed from Middle French descrier "to cry, make known," from des- de- + crier "to cry entry 1" Note: The history of both semantic branches of this verb is difficult to characterize, given that the meanings of individual occurrences in Middle English are often not obvious and may overlap. Sense 2 is generally traced to Middle French, though evidence for the word in French texts is exiguous, and instances of this meaning contemporary with Middle English uses are lacking (see Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, on line). A putative descrier "to announce, proclaim" in the Grandes Chroniques de France (late 14th century) should be read descirer (modern déchirer) "to tear up" (referring to letters brought by Philip VI before the Parlement of Paris). There appears to be no connection of the Middle English word and Middle French descrier "to devalue, discredit," not attested before the 15th century (see decry). Noun derivative of descry entry 1 First Known Use Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun 1604, in the meaning defined above descried verb past tense of descry 1 as in found to come upon after searching, study, or effort we couldn't descry the reasons for his sudden departure Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance found learned discovered located ascertained detected determined got found out rummaged dug up dug out scared up sighted spotted ran down turned up espied nosed out sought tracked (down) hit (on or upon) scouted (up) hunted (down or up) dredged (up) rooted (out) routed (out) ferreted (out) looked for searched (for or out) Antonyms & Near Antonyms missed overlooked passed over misplaced mislaid lost mis-set misset See More 2 as in noticed to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes could just descry the ship coming over the horizon Synonyms & Similar Words noticed spotted saw eyed remarked regarded noted sighted beheld discerned observed espied viewed perceived spied watched distinguished identified witnessed caught considered glimpsed examined marked looked (at) surveyed scanned studied laid eyes on got a load of set eyes on scrutinized picked out heeded inspected made out minded picked up attended (to) glanced (at) peered (at) Antonyms & Near Antonyms ignored disregarded neglected missed overlooked overpassed passed over See More
随便看	thiocarbamyl thiocarbanilide thiocarbimide thiocarbonate thiocarbonic acid thiocarbonyl Thiochem Sulfur Yellow R thiocyan- thiocyanate thiocyanates thiocyanato- thiocyanic acid thiocyanide thiocyano thiocyano- thiocyanogen thiocyanogen number thiocyanogen value thiodiglycol thiodiphenylamines thioguanines thioindigo Thioindigo Red B thioindigoid thioindigoid dye

descry

verb

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

verb