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reconnoiter

[ ree-kuh-noi-ter, rek-uh- ]
/ ˌri kəˈnɔɪ tər, ˌrɛk ə- /
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verb (used with object)

to inspect, observe, or survey (the enemy, the enemy's strength or position, a region, etc.) in order to gain information for military purposes.
to examine or survey (a region, area, etc.) for engineering, geological, or other purposes.

verb (used without object)

to make a reconnaissance.

RELATED WORDS

look, inquire, probe, explore, examine, scout, survey

Nearby words

  1. reconfirm,
  2. reconnaissance,
  3. reconnaissance car,
  4. reconnaissance satellite,
  5. reconnect,
  6. reconnoitre,
  7. reconquer,
  8. reconquest,
  9. reconsider,
  10. reconsideration

Origin of reconnoiter

1700–10; < French reconnoître (now obsolete) to explore, Middle French reconoistre. See recognize
Related formsre·con·noi·ter·er, nounun·re·con·noi·tered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reconnoiter

Word Origin and History for reconnoiter

reconnoiter

v.

also reconnoitre, 1707, "make a survey," from older French reconnoitre (Modern French reconnaître), from Old French reconoistre "to identify" (see recognize).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper