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re·veal¹

(rĭ-vēl)

tr.v. re·vealed, re·veal·ing, re·veals

a. To make known (something concealed or unknown): She revealed that she was pregnant. The study revealed the toxic effects of the pollutant.

b. To cause to be seen; show: The curtains parted, revealing a ballerina. The x-ray revealed a broken bone.

2. To make known by supernatural or divine means: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven" (Romans 1:18).

The making known of an important, secret, or salient occurrence, such as the revealing of a major development, plot twist, or visual effect in a movie: "Seeing [the Wiz] in human form in the first act diminishes the power of the reveal in the second" (Bob Verini).

[Middle English revelen, from Old French reveler, from Latin revēlāre : re-, re- + vēlāre, to cover (from vēlum, veil).]

re·veala·ble adj.

re·vealer n.

re·vealment n.

re·veal²

(rĭ-vēl)

a. The part of the side of a window or door opening that is between the outer surface of a wall and the window or door frame.

b. The whole side of such an opening; the jamb.

2. The framework of a motor vehicle window.

[From Middle English revalen, to lower, from Old French revaler : re-, re- + avaler, to lower (from a val, down : a, to from Latin ad; see AD- + val, valley; see VALE¹).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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