descry

verb (used with object), de·scried, de·scry·ing.

1. to see (something unclear or distant) by looking carefully; discern; espy: The lookout descried land.
2. to discover; perceive; detect.

verb -scries, -scrying or -scried (tr)

1. to discern or make out; catch sight of
2. to discover by looking carefully; detect

v.1

“to see, discern,” c.1300, probably from Old French descrier “publish” (Modern French décrier), from Latin describere (see describe).

v.2

“to proclaim,” mid-14c., from Old French descrier, from des- (see dis-) + crier, from Latin quiritare (see cry (v.)).