describe: [15] To describe something is literally to ‘write it down’. The word comes from Latin dēscrībere, a compound verb formed from the prefix dē- ‘down’ and scrībere ‘write’ (source of English scribe, script, etc). English originally borrowed it via Old French descrivre in the 13th century as descrive, in which the metaphorical sense ‘give an account of’ had already developed, and this was grafted on to the Latin verb when it was reborrowed directly in the 15th century. The derivative nondescript was coined (originally as a term in biological classification) in the 17th century. => ascribe, scribe, script
describe (v.)
early 13c., descriven, from Old French descrivre, descrire (13c.), from Latin describere "to write down, copy; sketch, represent" (see description). Reconstructed with Latin spelling 16c. Related: Describable; described, describes, describing.
双语例句
1. Globalisation is a catch-all to describe increased international trade.
“全球化”是个泛称，用以描述增进了的国际贸易。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Official handouts describe the Emperor as "particularly noted as a scholar".
官方印发的材料将皇帝描述为“尤以学识渊博而著称”。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Even his closest allies describe him as forceful, aggressive and determined.
即使他最亲密的盟友也认为他强硬决断、咄咄逼人，不达目的誓不罢休。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The slim booklets describe a range of services and facilities.