detect English · revision 10298

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1447|origins=la detectus|origins=ine-pro *(s)teg-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈtɛkt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English detecten, [[bor|la|dētēctus]], past participle of dētegere, to uncover, expose, figuratively to discover,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from dē-, un-, off, and tegere, to cover (see [[thatch]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*(s)teg-|t=to cover]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To uncover, lay bare, expose: probably before 1425 in Barnhart, the early 15th century in Etymonline, 1447 in the OED; this sense is obsolete.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To expose a person by divulging his guilt or secrets is from about 1449,^(OED 1989) and to find out the secret action or character of someone from the 1580s (1581).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The original senses were uncover, expose and give someone away; the sense discover came later.^(NODE 1998) To discover or ascertain the presence or existence of something is from 1756,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to act as a detective from 1926.^(OED 1989) In radio, to demodulate a signal is a modern technical sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Detective'' is first found in the 19th century in ''detective police''.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – to expose.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1449 – to expose a person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1581 – to find out a secret.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1756 – to discover the presence of.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1926 – to act as a detective.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To discover or notice the presence, existence or fact of something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To perceive the true nature of; to [[discern]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(electronics)'' To extract information from a signal; to demodulate.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[detectable]]

+ * [[detecter]]

+ * [[detectability]]

+ * [[detection]]

+ * [[detective]]

+ * [[detector]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[protect]]

+ * [[thatch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}