desvendar

Desvendar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese that means to uncover, reveal, or solve something that was hidden or concealed. It often refers to disclosing a truth, unmasking a secret, or clarifying a mystery through investigation, analysis, or insight. The term is common in both fiction and non-fiction, including journalism, detective stories, and scientific or historical inquiries.

Etymology and meaning notes

The word is formed with the des- prefix, indicating reversal or removal, combined with a root related to veiling or covering. This reflects the idea of removing a figurative or literal veil to expose what lies beneath. In usage, desvendar can carry a sense of deciphering or resolving something that was puzzling, rather than merely discovering something previously unknown.

Usage and nuances

Desvendar is typically transitive, taking a direct object such as un misterio, un secreto, un enigma, or una verdad. Examples: desvendar un misterio, desvendar un secreto, desvendar la verdad. It often implies a process or method—investigation, deducing, or reasoning—that leads to clarity. The term is closely related to, but distinct from, desvelar (to reveal something previously hidden by making it known), and descubrir (to discover in a broader sense).

In Portuguese, desvendar carries a similar meaning and is used in contexts ranging from solving puzzles to uncovering facts, sometimes with a sense of decoding or revealing hidden information. Desvendar is a common term in both languages for describing the act of bringing concealed knowledge to light.