Etymology Map
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Detect

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to discover the presence of

Where does the word "detect" come from? It comes from Latin detectus, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
detectus
Latin · ancient
"uncovered"
past participle of 'detegere', to uncover: 'de-' plus 'tegere', to cover
2
Stage 2 of 2
detect
English · 1400s
"to uncover"
'detective' dates from the 1840s
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Read the full story

Detect’s story begins in Latin: detectus meant “uncovered.” Past participle of 'detegere', to uncover: 'de-' plus 'tegere', to cover. It reached English by 1400s as detect. 'detective' dates from the 1840s. Today, detect means to discover the presence of.