descry

[ dih-skrahy ]

/ dɪˈskraɪ /

verb (used with object), de·scried, de·scry·ing.

to see (something unclear or distant) by looking carefully; discern; espy: The lookout descried land.

to discover; perceive; detect.

Nearby words

Origin of descry

1250–1300; Middle English descrien < Old French de(s)crïer to proclaim, decry. See dis-¹, cry

SYNONYMS FOR descry

1. notice.

Related formsde·scri·er, nounun·de·scried, adjectiveun·de·scry·ing, adjective

Can be confuseddecry descry (see synonym study at decry)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for descried

They warily drew near, and descried a female figure in wild attire waving signals from the strand.
Old Quebec|Sir Gilbert Parker and Claude Glennon Bryan
At last he descried Sir Torquin coming upon the road with a captive knight.
Traditions, Superstitions and Folk-lore|Charles Hardwick
Upon nearing the port, the first figure which he descried among the groups on shore was that of Mr. Gilchrist.
Ralph Denham's Adventures in Burma|George Norway
On our right, far in the distance, could be descried a long range of mountains, stretching away as far as the eye could see.
Narrative of the March of Co. A, Engineers from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Fort Bridger, Utah, and Return|William P. Seville

Just before noon on the third day some strange sail were descried ahead.
Antony Waymouth|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for descried

descry

/ (dɪˈskraɪ) /

verb -scries, -scrying or -scried (tr)

to discern or make out; catch sight of

to discover by looking carefully; detect

Derived Formsdescrier, noun

Word Origin for descry

C14: from Old French descrier to proclaim, decry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for descried

descry

v.2

"to proclaim," mid-14c., from Old French descrier, from des- (see dis-) + crier, from Latin quiritare (see cry (v.)).

descry

v.1

"to see, discern," c.1300, probably from Old French descrier "publish" (Modern French décrier), from Latin describere (see describe).

descry

verb (used with object), de·scried, de·scry·ing.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of descry

Examples from the Web for descried

descry

verb -scries, -scrying or -scried (tr)

Word Origin for descry

descry

descry