Descobriment

Descobriment refers to the act of discovering something that was previously unknown, including geographic locations, facts, or phenomena, as well as the result of that process—the discovery itself. The term encompasses both the process of realization and the outcome of confirming new knowledge.

Linguistic notes: In Catalan, the term is descobriment. In Portuguese, the standard noun is descobrimento; "descobriment" can appear in older texts or as a regional variant. The core concept remains the uncovering or bringing to light what was hidden or unknown.

Historical context: The phrase is often associated with the Age of Discovery (roughly the 15th to 17th centuries), when European powers, notably Portugal and Spain, opened sea routes to Africa, Asia, and the Americas. This period reshaped cartography, trade networks, science, and intercultural contact, with lasting geopolitical and cultural consequences.

Other uses: In science, descobriment (discovery) denotes the identification of a new phenomenon, principle, or entity, such as a chemical element, a biological species, or a fundamental theory. More generally, it describes any moment of realization or the process by which something becomes known to people.

See also: discovery; exploration; Age of Discovery.