A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1671
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Discover, v. Also: discovere, -covir, -cowir. [ME. discouer (a 1300), OF. descovrir.]
1. tr. To disclose, reveal, make known.1375 Barb. iv. 124 (E).
Thair may no man fire sa covir. Bot low or reyk sall it discovir 1375 Ib. xix. 22.
Thai ilk ane discoweryt war Throw a lady 1375 Ib. 65.
For he helyt thair entent. And discoweryt it nocht to the king a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 27.
Criste has wisly done, That opinly wald nocht discouere Till his discipulis that tratoure ?1438 Alex. ii. 2415.
I sall … discouer her till All hale my stait ?1438 Ib. 2483. 1456 Hay I. 116/24.
And he discover the secretis of the ost to the inymyes, [he] aw to tyne his hede a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2370.
The knycht him slewe in haist or he Micht discovere his prevate c1515 Asloan MS I. 178/24.
It is bot fenȝeing … that discoveris and schewis his dissait and fraude 1531 Bell. Boece I. 23.
Ane Scot … fled to King Coyll, and discoverit to him every thing devist be King Fergus c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1156.
Gif vther thing wes them betwene, Let them discouer, that luiferis bene 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 5603.
I will ȝow schaw, sa ȝe discouer not me
b. refl. To reveal one's knowledge or secret.1375 Barb. xvii. 53–4 (E).
Thow wroucht as wis, That has discoweryt thé fryst to me; For giff thow had discoueryt thé To my newo [etc.] a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2340.
He discoverit him till a masoun, And till him hecht gret reward
2. intr. and tr. To reconnoitre.1375 Barb. xiv. 268.
Furth till discouir, thair way thai ta 1375 Ib. 539.
Fra the cite Thai saw cum rydand a menȝhe, For till discowir, to the hill a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 795.
He rydis full richt … Derfly ouir dalis discouerand the doun
3. tr. To uncover, make bare, expose.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 89.
He was nevir sene in the kirke bot with heid discoverit 1531 Ib. 275.
Every Inglisman sall bek and discover his heid, quhen he met ane Dane c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 135.
Scho wyll discouer mouth and neis, … And … with uisage bair mak reuerence 1557 Criminal Trials I. 399.
[To] cum in presens of the prowest … with his heid discoverrit 1581 Burne Disput. 154 b.
Ve fal done on kneis, ve discouer our headis 1643 St. A. Presb. 10.
He did cover his head in the kirk … quhen all others were discovered(2) 15.. Clariodus iv. 429.
He … gart discover the littar that was bricht, And chariot eike 1614 Melrose P. 151.
Our vther dayis playing had discouerit the yrine yett 1671 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 273.
The toune serjands to goe before them with their halberts discoverit(3) 1558-66 Knox II. 69.
Quha raschelie discovering him selff in the trynschis, was schot in the heid
4. To remove or withdraw.1535 Stewart 24289.
So at the last the cloud ane lytill we Discouerit wes, that tha micht better se
