Undiscover

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To remove a covering from something in order to reveal what lies beneath or was concealed
2. To bring to light or expose something that was previously hidden, covered, or unknown
3. To uncover and make visible something that had been kept secret or out of sight

Etymology: "Undiscover" is formed in English by attaching the prefix "un-" to "discover," which itself comes from Old French "descovrir" (to uncover, reveal), built from "des-" (a reversing prefix) and "covrir" (to cover). The word therefore carries a double reversal: "discover" already means to remove the covering from something, and "undiscover" reverses that act again, so it means to cover over or conceal something that had been revealed. Because "un-" is a productive prefix in English, it can attach to many verbs, and "undiscover" follows the same pattern as other un-verbs such as "unveil" or "uncover." Its existence is a reminder that English speakers readily invent reversals of this kind whenever a clear opposite is needed.