discovered

Everyday

1. Discovered means found something for the first time, or found something that was hidden or not known. tree →
2. Discovered means found out or learned a fact. tree →

In the lessons

In science and history lessons scientists discovered things like penicillin, new planets and dinosaur fossils; explorers discovered new lands (though people often already lived there). In stories characters discover secrets or treasure. In maths, pupils discover patterns.

Examples

• Scientists discovered a new kind of frog. tree →
• We discovered a nest in the hedge. tree →
• She discovered that her keys were missing. tree →
• Fleming discovered penicillin by accident. tree →
• They discovered treasure in the old chest. tree →
• I discovered a pattern in the numbers. tree →
• Thank Heaven, I discovered it in time!" tree →

Note

Regular verb. Nouns: discovery, discoverer. «Discover» (find something that already existed) differs from «invent» (make something new): you discover gold but invent a machine. Myth: Europeans «discovered» lands where people already lived.

In Jewish tradition

In science and history lessons scientists discovered things like penicillin, new planets and dinosaur fossils; explorers discovered new lands (though people often already lived there). In stories characters discover secrets or treasure. In maths, pupils discover patterns.

Examples

• Many writers maintain that only at a later period the principle of position and the zero was discovered. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him; now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. (Prophets 1SA.22.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb. Nouns: discovery, discoverer. «Discover» (find something that already existed) differs from «invent» (make something new): you discover gold but invent a machine. Myth: Europeans «discovered» lands where people already lived.