Descry \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. d['e]crier. 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. [R.] His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should descry him. --Milton. Syn: To see; behold; espy; discover; discern. web1913
descry v : catch sight of [syn: {spot}, {espy}, {spy}] wn