discover

Etymology

From Middle English discoveren, from Old French descovrir, from Late Latin discoperīre < discooperiō, discooperīre, from Latin dis- + cooperiō. Displaced native Old English onfindan.

verb

1. To find or learn something for the first time.
   Turning the corner, I discovered a lovely little shop. I discovered that they sold widgets.
   All this has led to an explosion of protest across China, including among a middle class that has discovered nimbyism. 2013-08-10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848
2. (transitive, obsolete) To remove the cover from; to uncover (a head, building etc.).
3. (transitive, now rare) To expose, uncover.
   The gust of wind discovered a bone in the sand.
4. (transitive, chess) To create by moving a piece out of another piece's line of attack.
   This move discovers an attack on a vital pawn.
5. (law, transitive) To question (a person) as part of discovery in a lawsuit.
   Indeed, the plaintiffs suggest that they may not need to call Ms. Samji at all if they are allowed to discover the defendant on the new documents before any new trial takes place. 2 July 2019, Ward K. Branch, “Gordon v. Canada, 2017 FC 454”, in CanLII, retrieved 2021-04-13
6. (transitive, archaic) To reveal (information); to divulge, make known.
   I discovered my plans to the rest of the team.
7. (transitive, obsolete) To reconnoitre, explore (an area).
8. (obsolete) To manifest without design; to show; to exhibit.
   The youth discovered a taste for sculpture. 1871, Charles John Smith, Synonyms Discriminated
   The English Cooks keep all their Spices in separate boxes, but the French Cooks make a spicey mixture that does not discover a predominancy of any one of the spices over the others. 1806, Alexander Hunter, Culina Famulatrix Medicinæ, page 125