descry

[ dih-skrahy ]

verb (used with object)

, de·scried, de·scry·ing.

1. to see (something unclear or distant) by looking carefully; discern; espy:

   The lookout descried land.

   Synonyms: notice

2. to discover; ascertain; detect.

descry

/ dɪˈskraɪ /

verb

1. to discern or make out; catch sight of
2. to discover by looking carefully; detect

Derived Forms

• deˈscrier, noun

Other Words From

• de·scrier noun
• unde·scried adjective
• unde·scrying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of descry¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English descrien, from Old French de(s)crïer “to proclaim, decry”; dis- ¹, cry

Word History and Origins

Origin of descry¹

C14: from Old French descrier to proclaim, decry

Example Sentences

They can descry waveless water, seemingly as tranquil as a pond.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked hard into the branches and their wilderness of fresh leaves, but could descry nothing.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet, and yet—as I gazed I could descry a striking resemblance to our own waterhole except that this was more shut in.

From Project Gutenberg

He is so eager to descry differences, that he overlooks similarities—nay, identities.

From Project Gutenberg

They strung themselves out along the road, they went up to the hilltops, in order to descry the carriage sooner.

From Project Gutenberg