Definition

1. 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

1. catch sight of