discovery
UK: dɪˈskʌvəri | US: dɪˈskʌvəri
n. the act of finding or learning something for the first time
n. something that is discovered
n. (legal) the compulsory disclosure of relevant documents or facts in a lawsuit
discover<to uncover> + y<noun suffix>
- discover: From Old French descovrir (to uncover, reveal), combining des- (opposite/reversal) + covrir (to cover).
- -y: A noun-forming suffix indicating a state, action, or result (e.g., recovery, delivery).
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin discooperire (to uncover), blending dis- (apart) and cooperire (to cover). Over time, Old French reshaped it into descovrir, which entered Middle English as discoveren. The suffix -y was later added to nominalize the verb, reflecting the result or process of uncovering. The modern sense of "finding something unknown" emerged in the 16th century, aligning with the Age of Exploration.
The discovery of penicillin revolutionized medicine.
Scientists announced a major discovery about black holes.
The legal team requested full discovery of evidence.
Her research led to the discovery of an ancient artifact.
Space exploration often results in unexpected discoveries.