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.
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            And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel.
                                                  --Judg. i. 23.
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            Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to descry
            The strength o' the enemy.            --Shak.
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            And now their way to earth they had descried.
                                                  --Milton.
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   2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal. [R.]
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            His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should
            descry him.                           --Milton.

   Syn: To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.
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