discovery

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discovery

  • /dɪˈskʌv.ɹi/ Canada, US, UK
  • /dɪˈskʌv.ə.ɹi/ Canada, US, UK
  • /dɪˈskɐv.ɹi/ Australia
  • /dɪˈskɐv.ə.ɹi/ Australia
  • /dəˈskɐv.ɹi/ New Zealand
  • /dəˈskɐv.ə.ɹi/ New Zealand
  • /ɖɪsˈkəʋᵊ.ɾiː/ India, North
  • /ˈɖɪsːˌkə.ʋə.ɾiː/ India, South

Rhymes with -ʌvəɹi

Where it comes from

from discover + -ery, on the pattern of the pair recover, recovery. Displaced native Old English onfundennes.

noun discoveries · discoverie

  1. countable, uncountable Something discovered. This latest discovery should eventually lead to much better treatments for disease.
  2. uncountable The discovering of new things. The purpose of the voyage was discovery.
  3. archaic, countable An act of uncovering or revealing something; a revelation. Don Huberto actually fell in love with his kinswoman, and had presumption enough to declare his passion […] The lady being a woman of discretion, instead of making a discovery, which might have been attended with melancholy consequences, reprimanded her relation with gentleness […]
  4. uncountable A pre-trial phase in which evidence is gathered. The prosecution moved to suppress certain items turned up during discovery.
  5. uncountable Materials revealed to the opposing party during the pre-trial phase in which evidence is gathered. The defense argued that the plaintiff's discovery was inadequate.
  6. countable, uncountable A discovered attack. 1700: "If I play f4, he can check me with ...Qd4, but then he has to move his Queen because he can easily lose it to a Bishop discovery on b5. He could also check me on c5 when his Queen might be safer. I could just move out of the way, though, and continue my attack."

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