— discoverable , adj. — discoverably , adv.
/di skuv"euhr/ , v.t.
1. to see, get knowledge of, learn of, find, or find out; gain sight or knowledge of (something previously unseen or unknown): to discover America; to discover electricity.
2. to notice or realize: I discovered I didn't have my credit card with me when I went to pay my bill.
3. Archaic. to make known; reveal; disclose.
[ 1250-1300; ME discoverir, descovrir, OF descovrir discooperire. See DIS- 1 , COVER ]
Syn. 1. detect, espy, descry, discern, ascertain, unearth, ferret out, notice. DISCOVER, INVENT, ORIGINATE suggest bringing to light something previously unknown. To DISCOVER may be to find something that had previously existed but had hitherto been unknown: to discover a new electricity; it may also refer to devising a new use for something already known: to discover how to make synthetic rubber. To INVENT is to make or create something new, esp. something ingeniously devised to perform mechanical operations: to invent a device for detecting radioactivity. To ORIGINATE is to begin something new, esp. new ideas, methods, etc.: to originate a political movement, the use of assembly-line techniques. See also learn .