descry
/dis'krai/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To catch sight of; to see, especially something distant or difficult to see: "descry" means to notice or discover something by looking carefully, often something that is far away or not obvious.
Usage
- "Descry" is a formal or literary verb. It is used to describe the act of discerning something with the eyes, especially after looking intently or from a distance. It often implies that the object was hard to see or required keen observation to notice.
Examples
- Verb:
- From the tower, the lookout could descry the approaching ships on the horizon.
- She strained her eyes to descry the path through the thick fog.
Advanced Usage
- "to descry that...": to perceive or discern through observation that something is the case.
- In his essay, he tries to descry the underlying patterns in human behavior.
Variants and Related Words
- Descrier (n, archaic): One who descries; a discoverer or lookout.
- Describing (v, present participle): The act of catching sight of something.
- The describing of land was a momentous event for the sailors.
Synonyms
- Discern: To perceive or recognize something.
- Espy: To catch sight of, especially something small or distant.
- Behold: To see or observe (a thing or person, often a remarkable one).
- Spot: To see, notice, or recognize someone or something that is difficult to detect.
Antonyms
- Overlook: To fail to notice or consider; to miss seeing.
- Miss: To fail to see, notice, or perceive.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To descry from afar: To see or make out something from a great distance.
- The explorers hoped to descry the coast from afar before nightfall.
Verb
- catch sight of