different between discover vs specify

English

Alternative forms

• discovre (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English discoveren, from Old French descovrir, from Late Latin discoper?re < discooperi?, discooper?re, from Latin dis- + cooperi?.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d?s?k?v?/
• (Northern England) IPA^(key): /d?s?k?v?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /d?s?k?v?/
• Rhymes: -?v?(?)
• Hyphenation: dis?cov?er

Verb

discover (third-person singular simple present discovers, present participle discovering, simple past and past participle discovered)

1. To find or learn something for the first time.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To remove the cover from; to uncover (a head, building etc.).
3. (transitive, now rare) To expose, uncover.

4. (transitive, chess) To create by moving a piece out of another piece's line of attack.

5. (law, transitive) To question (a person) as part of discovery in a lawsuit.
6. (transitive, archaic) To reveal (information); to divulge, make known.
   • 1625, Francis Bacon, Of Adversity

     Prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.

7. (transitive, obsolete) To reconnoitre, explore (an area).

   • they seyde the same, and were aggreed that Sir Clegis, Sir Claryon, and Sir Clement the noble, that they sholde dyscover the woodys, bothe the dalys and the downys.

8. (obsolete) To manifest without design; to show; to exhibit.
   • 1871, Charles John Smith}}, Synonyms Discriminated

     The youth discovered a taste for sculpture.

Synonyms

• (expose something previously covered): expose, reveal, uncover
• (find something for the first time): come across, find

Antonyms

• (expose something previously covered): conceal, cover, cover up, hide

Derived terms

• discovery
• discovered attack
• discovered check

Translations

See also

• invent
• detect
• find
• stumble upon

Anagrams

• codrives, discovre, divorces, divorcés

English

Etymology

From Old French specifier, especefier, or directly from Medieval Latin specific?, from specificus (“specific”).

Pronunciation

• (UK)IPA^(key): /?sp?s.?.fa?/
• (US)IPA^(key): /?sp?s.??fa?/
• Hyphenation: spe?ci?fy

Verb

specify (third-person singular simple present specifies, present participle specifying, simple past and past participle specified)

1. (transitive) To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.
2. (transitive) To include in a specification.
3. (transitive) To bring about a specific result.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To speak explicitly or in detail (often used with of).

Synonyms

• explicitize
• disambiguate

Derived terms

• above-specified

Related terms

• specifiable
• specific
• specification

Translations