Dictionary entry

Descry

Webster's Dictionary 1913

De‐scry″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Descried (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Descrying.] [OE. descrien, discrien, to espy, prob. from the proclaiming of what was espied, fr. OF. descrier to proclaim, cry down, decry, F. décrier. The word was confused somewhat with OF. descriven, E. describe, OF. descrivre, from L. describere. See Decry.] 1. To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or obscure; to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover.

And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. Judg. i. 23.

Edmund, I think, is gone... to descry

The strength o' the enemy. Shak.

And now their way to earth they had descried. Milton.

2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal.

His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should descry him. Milton.

Syn. — To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.