search

Definitions

A hidden member of the circ family. search came through Old French cerchier from Late Latin circāre, 'to go around (exploring)' — itself from circus (circle). To search a place once literally meant to walk around it, looking everywhere. The circle has worn away from the spelling and the meaning, but it's the same root as circle and circus.

Why It Means This

search is the family's most disguised member — you'd never guess a circle is inside it. The path is: circus (ring) → Late Latin circāre ('to go round looking') → Old French cerchier → English search. The original act was physical and literal: to find something, you went around the area, scanning. By the time it reached English, the 'going around' had faded into pure 'looking for,' so we now search a database or our memory without any circling at all. The same circ also gave us research — literally 'to search again, thoroughly.'

Common Collocations

• 1.search for寻找
• 2.search engine搜索引擎
• 3.in search of寻找
• 4.conduct a search进行搜索

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Police searched the building but found nothing.

• 2.

  She searched everywhere for her lost keys.

• 3.

  Type a keyword and click search.

• 4.

  The search for survivors continued through the night.