describe
/dɪˈskraɪb/·디스크라이브·verb
to give details about something
LatinCEFR A2
Root
de- (down) + Latin 'scribere' (to write)
Latin describere (write down) → Old French descrire → Middle English describen
In a word
de- (down) + scrib (write) = 'write down'. The scrib family splits by where you write — de- (down) → describe, manu- (hand) → manuscript, trans- (across) → transcript, sub- (under) → subscribe. Description, manuscript, transcript, subscription — all kin of "writing". Even YouTube's subscribe button is a trace of that old pen.
Examples
Can you describe the man you saw?
She described her trip in great detail.
Words can hardly describe my feelings.
Related
manuscripttranscriptsubscribescripturedescription