- explore (v.)
- 1580s, "to investigate, examine," a back-formation from exploration, or else from Middle French explorer (16c.), from Latin explorare "investigate, search out, examine, explore," said to be originally a hunters' term meaning "set up a loud cry," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + plorare "to weep, cry." Compare deplore. However, de Vaan notes that "the ancient explanation, ... that the verb explorare originally meant 'to scout the hunting area for game by means of shouting'" is now considered "unlikely." Second element also is explained as "to make to flow," from pluere "to flow." Meaning "to go to a country or place in quest of discoveries" is first attested 1610s. Related: Explored; exploring.
- explorer (n.)
- 1680s, agent noun from explore. Replaced earlier exploratour (mid-15c.).
- exploratory (adj.)
- mid-15c., from Latin exploratorius "belonging to scouts," from explorator "scout," from explorare "investigate, examine" (see explore). Alternative explorative is from 1738; explorational is from 1889.
- exploration (n.)
- 1540s, from Middle French exploration and directly from Latin explorationem (nominative exploratio) "an examination," noun of action from past participle stem of explorare "investigate, examine" (see explore). Alternative explorement is from 1640s.
- unexplored (adj.)
- 1690s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of explore (v.).
- spelunker (n.)
- "a cave bug; one who explores caves as a hobby," 1942, agent noun formed from obsolete spelunk "cave, cavern." The verb spelunk "explore caves" and the verbal noun spelunking are attested from 1946 and appear to be back-formations.
- scout (v.1)
- late 14c., "observe or explore as a scout, travel in search of information," from Old French escouter "to listen, heed" (Modern French écouter), from Latin auscultare "to listen to, give heed to" (see auscultate). Related: Scouted; scouting.
- prospect (v.)
- "explore for gold, examine land with a view to a mining claim," 1841, from prospect (n.) in specialized sense of "spot giving prospects of ore" (1832). Earlier in a sense "look forth, look out over" (1550s), from Latin prospectare. Related: Prospected; prospecting.
