detective
UK: dɪˈtektɪv | US: dɪˈtektɪv
n. a person, especially a police officer, whose job is to investigate crimes and catch criminals
n. (in fiction) a character who solves mysteries by gathering clues
adj. relating to the work of solving crimes or mysteries
detective = detect<discover> + ive<adjective/noun suffix>
- detect: From Latin detectus (past participle of detegere, "to uncover"), combining de- (off, away) + tegere (to cover). Originally meant "to expose" or "uncover," later evolving to mean "discover hidden information."
- ive: A suffix forming adjectives/nouns (e.g., active, objective), indicating "pertaining to" or "one who does."
Etymology Origin:
The word detective emerged in the mid-19th century, directly from detect + ive. It reflects the role of "uncovering" truths (detect) and the suffix -ive, which denotes a person engaged in that action. The term gained prominence with the rise of professional crime investigation and fictional sleuths like Sherlock Holmes.
The detective carefully examined the fingerprints at the crime scene.
She hired a private detective to investigate her husband’s whereabouts.
Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot is famous for his sharp intellect.
The detective novel kept readers guessing until the final chapter.
Modern detectives often rely on forensic science to solve cases.