découvrir French · revision 16465

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 12th century, Oxford Psalter (descuevre)|origins=la cooperiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /de.ku.vʁiʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''découvrir'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|descovrir]], [[m|fro|descouvrir]]; the Académie entered it as ''descouvrir'' in 1694 and 1718.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|descovrir]], [[inh|la-lat|discooperiō|t=to uncover]] (in the Vulgate), formed from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]] and [[la|cooperiō|t=to cover completely]], the source of [[couvrir]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|2, 1142b)

+

+ The same Latin verb gave [[it|scoprire]], with a different prefix, [[es|descubrir]] and [[pro|descobrir]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first sense, in the ''Oxford Psalter'' (early 12th century), is figurative, “to reveal”: ''Descuevre al seigneur la tue veie'' (“reveal your way to the Lord”).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 12th century it also had the physical sense “to strip of what covers or protects”: Wace (1160–1174) has ''De l'escu l'a descovert'', and ''à descovert'' “uncovered, in the open” is found about 1150.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Se découvrir'' meant “to undress” about 1230 and “to take off one's hat” in 1564; of the sky it meant “to clear” in 1690.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ The sense “to see from a distance” appears in 1564 and “to be the first to make known” in Montaigne (1580), but explorers' accounts speak of ''descouvrir'' new lands as early as 1532.^(TLFi)^(BHVF) “To find out (something hidden)” follows in 1614.^(DHLF 1992) The derived ''découverte'' “discovery” is from 1587, and ''découvert'' “overdraft” from 1817 (Stendhal).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 12th century – “To reveal”, in the ''Oxford Psalter''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1150 – ''A descovert'' in the ''Roman de Thèbes''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1160–1174 – “To strip of a covering”, in Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1532 – Discovering new lands.^(BHVF)

+ * 1564 – “To catch sight of”, ''se découvrir'' “to take off one's hat”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – “To be the first to make known”, in Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1587 – The noun ''découverte'' “discovery”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1817 – ''Découvert'' “overdraft”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To uncover, take the cover off: ''découvrir un plat''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+ # To reveal, show: ''une robe qui découvre le dos''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To leave unprotected, expose.^(Le Robert)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To disclose: ''découvrir ses intentions''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+ # To [[m|en|discover]], find (something unknown): ''découvrir un trésor'', ''découvrir l'Amérique''.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+ # To find out, realize.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To catch sight of, see from a distance.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Se découvrir'': to take off one's hat, (of the sky) to clear.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Découvrir le pot aux roses'': to find out the secret.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[découverte]]

+ * [[découvreur]]

+ * [[redécouvrir]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[découvert]]

+ * [[couvrir]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}