different between decry vs scry

English

Etymology

From Old French descrier (“to shout”), from des- (“out, away, off, down”) + crier (“to cry”); see cry.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??k?a?/
• Rhymes: -a?

Verb

decry (third-person singular simple present decries, present participle decrying, simple past and past participle decried)

1. (transitive) To denounce as harmful.
   • 1970, Alvin Toffler, Future Shock, Bantam Books, pg. 99:

     All of us seem to need some totalistic relationships in our lives. But to decry the fact that we cannot have only such relationships is nonsense.

   • 1970, Alvin Toffler, Future Shock, Bantam Books, pg. 474:

     While decrying bureaucracy and demanding participatory democracy they, themselves, frequently attempt to manipulate the very group of workers, blacks or students on whose behalf they demand participation.

2. (transitive) To blame for ills.

Translations

References

• Chambers's Etymological Dictionary, 1896, p. 114
• decry in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• decry in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• decry at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• cedry, cyder

English

Alternative forms

• skry

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sk?a?/
• Rhymes: -a?

Etymology 1

From Middle English scrien, scryen, a shortened form of Middle English ascrien, from Old French escrier (“to cry out”). Influenced by Middle English descrien (“to descry”).

Verb

scry (third-person singular simple present scries, present participle scrying, simple past and past participle scried)

1. To predict the future using crystal balls or other objects.

   The fortune teller claimed she could scry [into] the future.

2. (obsolete) To descry; to see.

Translations

Derived terms

• scryer

Etymology 2

From Middle English ascry, ascrie, escrie, from Anglo-Norman ascri, from Old French escri.

Noun

scry (plural scries)

1. (obsolete) A cry or shout.
2. A flock of wildfowl.

Verb

scry (third-person singular simple present scries, present participle scrying, simple past and past participle scried)

1. (obsolete) To proclaim.

Anagrams

• Cyrs