describe

describe
\ \ [15] To describe something is literally to ‘write it down’. The word comes from Latin dēscrībere, a compound verb formed from the prefix - ‘down’ and scrīberewrite’ (source of English scribe, script, etc). English originally borrowed it via Old French descrivre in the 13th century as descrive, in which the metaphorical sense ‘give an account of’ had already developed, and this was grafted on to the Latin verb when it was reborrowed directly in the 15th century. The derivative nondescript was coined (originally as a term in biological classification) in the 17th century.
\ \ Cf.ASCRIBE, SCRIBE, SCRIPT

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Describe — De*scribe , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Described}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Describing}.] [L. describere, descriptum; de + scribere to write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F. d[ e]crire. See {Scribe}, and cf. {Descry}.] 1. To represent by drawing; to draw… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • describe — I verb annotate, be specific, characterize, clarify, define, delineate, depict, depingere, describere, detail, elucidate, explain, explicare, expound, give an account, identify, illuminate, illustrate, itemize, make clear, make plain, make vivid …   Law dictionary

  • Describe — De*scribe , v. i. To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • describe — early 13c., descriven, from O.Fr. descrivre, descrire (13c.), from L. describere to write down, copy; sketch, represent (see DESCRIPTION (Cf. description)). Reconstructed with Latin spelling 16c. Related: Describable; described, describes,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • describe — *relate, narrate, state, report, rehearse, recite, recount Analogous words: delineate, *sketch, outline …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • describe — [v] explain in speech, writing call, characterize, chronicle, communicate, construe, convey image, define, delineate, depict, detail, distinguish, draw, elucidate, epitomize, exemplify, explicate, expound, express, illuminate, illustrate, image,… …   New thesaurus

  • describe — ► VERB 1) give a detailed account in words of. 2) mark out or draw (a geometrical figure). DERIVATIVES describable adjective describer noun. ORIGIN Latin describere write down …   English terms dictionary

  • describe — [di skrīb′] vt. described, describing [ME descriven < OFr descrivre < L describere, to copy down, transcribe < de , from + scribere, to write: see SCRIBE] 1. to tell or write about; give a detailed account of 2. to picture in words 3. to …   English World dictionary

  • describe */*/*/ — UK [dɪˈskraɪb] / US verb [transitive] Word forms describe : present tense I/you/we/they describe he/she/it describes present participle describing past tense described past participle described 1) a) to give details about what someone or… …   English dictionary

  • describe — de|scribe W1S1 [dıˈskraıb] v [T] [Date: 1400 1500; : Latin; Origin: describere, from scribere to write ] 1.) to say what something or someone is like by giving details about them ▪ The police asked her to describe the two men. ▪ An alternative… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • describe — de|scribe [ dı skraıb ] verb transitive *** 1. ) to give details about what someone or something is like: The e mail system is fully described in section 10. I don t think that s quite the word to describe my feelings. describe someone/something… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”