Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “discover” come from?

Discover comes from Middle English discoveren, from Old French descovrir, from Late Latin discoperire, ultimately from Latin discooperio meaning to uncover.

discover (English): To find or learn something for the first time; To...

Definitions

  1. To find or learn something for the first time; To...

Ancestry of “discover”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdiscoveren—
2Old Frenchdescovrirto uncover, to reveal; to discover
3Latindiscoperīre—
4Latindiscooperiō—
5Latincooperiō—
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “discover”

  • discoverer
  • Discover
  • discoverable
  • rediscover
  • undiscoverable
  • discoverability
  • discovereth
  • codiscoverer
  • discoverest
  • indiscoverable
  • discoveree
  • rediscoverer
  • undiscoverably
  • discoverably
  • codiscover
  • undiscover
  • undiscoverability
  • misdiscover
  • discoverment
  • prediscover
  • ディスカバー
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →