diˈscovert, a. and n.
[a. OF. descovert, -couvert, pa. pple. of descouvrir (also used subst.), mod.F. découvert = med.L. discoopertus, pa. pple. of discooperīre to discover.]
A. adj.
† 1. Uncovered, exposed, unprotected. Obs.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 738 As he huld is scheld vp so, discouert was al ys side. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. xlviii. 94/2 Seenge the caue broken and dyscouuerte. a 1500 Chaucer's Dreme 6 Flora..with hire mantel hole coverte That winter made had discoverte. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. clvii. [cliii.] 429 The quenes lytter was richely apparelled and discouert. |
2. Law. Of an unmarried woman or a widow: Not covert, not under the cover, authority, or protection of a husband; cf. covert a. 4.
| 1729 G. Jacob Law Dict. (1736), Discovert is used in the law for a woman unmarried or widow, one not within the bands of matrimony. 1883 Law Rep. 23 Ch. Div. 715 The wife's..interest cannot come into existence until she is discovert. 1886 Law Times LXXXI. 171/2 The married lady had not disposed of the income when discovert. |
† B. n. An uncovered or exposed state. in discovert or at discovert, in an uncovered condition; off one's guard. [OF. à descovert.] Obs.
| [1292 Britton iii. xv. §3 En presence de bones gentz tut a descovert.] 13.. K. Alis. (Laud MS.) 7407 (W. 7418) Ac Alisaunder was sone hym by And smoot hym in þe discouerte Wiþ þe strooke al to þe herte. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶640 Þe deueles may..scheten at hym at discouert by temptacion on euery syde. c 1450 Merlin 331 Nascien..smote the kynge Rion so harde at discouert vpon the lifte side that he bar hym to the erthe. 1590 T. Lodge Euphues' Gold. Leg. in Halliw. Shaks. VI. 15 Love..taking her at discovert stroke her so deepe, as she felt herselfe growing passing passionate. a 1592 Greene Arbasto viii, Cupid..seeing her now at discovert, drew home to the head. |