The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Descry \De*scry"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Descried; p. pr. & vb.
n. Descrying.] [OE. descrien, discrien, to espy, prob. from
the proclaiming of what was espied, fr. OF. descrier to
proclaim, cry down, decry, F. d['e]crier. The word was
confused somewhat with OF. descriven, E. describe, OF.
descrivre, from L. describere. See Decry.]
1. To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or
obscure; to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover.
[1913 Webster]
And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel.
--Judg. i. 23.
[1913 Webster]
Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to descry
The strength o' the enemy. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
And now their way to earth they had descried.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should
descry him. --Milton.
Syn: To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.
[1913 Webster]