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.
décrier. 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.
And the house of Joseph sent to descry
Bethel.
Judg. i. 23.
Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to descry
The strength o' the enemy.
Shak.
And now their way to earth they had
descried.
Milton.
2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal.
[R.]
His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should
descry him.
Milton.
Syn. -- To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.
De*scry" (?), n. Discovery or
view, as of an army seen at a distance. [Obs.]
Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry
Stands on the hourly thought.
Shak.