Detect
/dɪˈtɛkt/noun
To discover or identify the presence of something hidden or not immediately obvious.
Did you know?Detect comes from Latin *detegere*, and its deeper root *teg-* also gave us “toga,” “protect,” and “tegument,” all carrying the ancient idea of covering and uncovering.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teḱ- / *teg-
“To cover, roof over, or protect by covering”
Latin
Latin
tegere
“To cover”
Latin
Latin
detegere
“To uncover, reveal, lay bare”
Late Latin / Old French
Old French
detecter
“To uncover or expose”
16th Century
English
detect
“To discover or expose something hidden”
Modern English
English
detect
“To discover or identify by observation, investigation, or evidence”