descry

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

descry
    v 1: catch sight of [syn: {descry}, {spot}, {espy}, {spy}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.
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            And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel.
                                                  --Judg. i. 23.
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            Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to descry
            The strength o' the enemy.            --Shak.
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            And now their way to earth they had descried.
                                                  --Milton.
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   2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal. [R.]
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            His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should
            descry him.                           --Milton.

   Syn: To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Descry \De*scry"\, n.
   Discovery or view, as of an army seen at a distance. [Obs.]
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         Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry
         Stands on the hourly thought.            --Shak.
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from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

50 Moby Thesaurus words for "descry":
      appreciate, behold, catch, catch sight of, clap eyes on,
      come alive, comprehend, detect, discern, discover, distinguish,
      encounter, espy, glimpse, have in sight, hit, identify, ken,
      lay eyes on, look on, look upon, make out, mark, meet with, note,
      notice, observe, penetrate, perceive, pick out, pick up, pierce,
      plumb, realize, recognize, see, see daylight, see into,
      see the light, see through, sense, sight, spot, spy, take in,
      turn up, twig, understand, view, witness