reconnoitre

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To perform a reconnaissance (of an area; an enemy position); to scout with the aim of gaining information.

   Our scout will reconnoitre the path ahead of our troops.

2. 2
   verb

   To recognise.

   As to my person, it will not be so easy to reconnoitre it, for I question whether any of it will remain.

3. 3
   noun

   An act or instance of reconnoitring.

   The pilot reported the findings of his reconnoitre.

4. 4
   verb

   explore, often with the goal of finding something or somebody

Simplified etymology

Reconnoitre entered English in the early 18th century from French reconnoître, “recognize.” The French verb ultimately derives from Latin recognoscere, literally “to know again,” formed from re-, “again,” and cognoscere, “to know.”

From French reconnoître (obsolete spelling of reconnaître), from Latin recognoscere (“to recognise”). There is also an obsolete 19th-century British English spelling reconnaitre, influenced by the modern French form.

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary