Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Detect

De-tect′

(dē̍-tĕkt′)
,
Adj.
[L.
detectus
, p. p. of
detegere
to uncover, detect;
de
+
tegere
to cover. See
Tegument
.]
Detected.
[Obs.]
Fabyan.

De-tect′

(dē̍-tĕkt′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Detected
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Detecting
.]
1.
To uncover; to discover; to find out; to bring to light;
as, to
detect
a crime or a criminal; to
detect
a mistake in an account.
Plain good intention . . . is as easily discovered at the first view, as fraud is surely
detected
at last.
Burke.
Like following life through creatures you dissect,
You lose it in the moment you
detect
.
Pope.
2.
To inform against; to accuse.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Detect

DETECT

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to cover.] Literally, to uncover; hence, to discover; to find out; to bring to light; as, to detect the ramifications and inosculations of the fine vessels. But this word is especially applied to the discovery of secret crimes and artifices. We detect a thief, or the crime of stealing. We detect the artifices of the man, or the man himself. We detect what is concealed, especially what is concealed by design.

Definition 2024

detect

detect

English

Verb

detect ‎(third-person singular simple present detects, present participle detecting, simple past and past participle detected)

  1. to discover or find by careful search, examination, or probing

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Adjective

detect ‎(not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) Detected.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Fabyan to this entry?)

External links

  • detect in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • detect in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Etymology

From Latin detectus, perfect passive participle of detegere ‎(“to uncover or disclose”), from de- + tegere ‎(“to cover”); see tegument, tile, thatch

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈtɛkt/
  • Rhymes: -ɛkt

Similar Results