Part 223

De*tect" (d*tkt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detected; p. pr. & vb. n. Detecting.] 1. To uncover; to discover; to find out; to bring to light; as, to detect a crime or a criminal; to detect a mistake in an account.

Plain good intention . . . is as easily discovered at the first view, as fraud is surely detected at last.

Burke.

Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.

Pope.

2. To inform against; to accuse. [Obs.]

He was untruly judged to have preached such articles as he was detected of.

Sir T. More.

Syn. -- To discover; find out; lay bare; expose.

{ De*tect"a*ble (-*b'l), De*tect"i*ble (?), } a. Capable of being detected or found out; as, parties not detectable. "Errors detectible at a glance." Latham.

De*tect"er (?), n. One who, or that which, detects or brings to light; one who finds out what another attempts to conceal; a detector.

De*tec"tion (?), n. [L. detectio an uncovering, revealing.] The act of detecting; the laying open what was concealed or hidden; discovery; as, the detection of a thief; the detection of fraud, forgery, or a plot.

Such secrets of guilt are never from detection.

D. Webster.

De*tect"ive (?), a. Fitted for, or skilled in, detecting; employed in detecting crime or criminals; as, a detective officer.

De*tect"ive, n. One who business it is so detect criminals or discover matters of secrecy.

De*tect"or (?), n. [L., a revealer.] One who, or that which, detects; a detecter. Shak.

A deathbed's detector of the heart.

Young.

Bank-note detector, a publication containing a description of genuine and counterfeit bank notes, designed to enable persons to discriminate between them. -- Detector lock. See under Lock.

De*ten"e*brate (?), v. t. [L. de + tenebrare to make dark, fr. tenebrae darkness.] To remove darkness from. [Obs.] Ash.

De*tent" (?), n. [F. détente, fr. détendre to unbend, relax; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + tendre to stretch. See Distend.] (Mech.) That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch, pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking.

De*ten"tion (?), n. [L. detentio: cf. F. détention. See Detain.] 1. The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.

2. The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); delay from necessity.

3. Confinement; restraint; custody.

The archduke Philip . . . found himself in a sort of honorable detention at Henry's court.

Hallam.

De*ter" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deterring.] [L. deterrere; de + terrere to frighten, terrify. See Terror.] To prevent by fear; hence, to hinder or prevent from action by fear of consequences, or difficulty, risk, etc. Addison.