revealing
UK[rɪˈviːlɪŋ]US[rɪˈviːlɪŋ]
adj
Allowing something to be seen that is usually hidden
adj
Making something known that was secret or not previously understood
Morpheme Breakdown
re
veal
ing
re
again
veal
cover
ing
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'revealing' originates from the Latin verb revelare, meaning "to unveil" or "to disclose," which itself is composed of re- (expressing reversal) and velare (to cover, from velum, a veil). This literal sense of drawing back a veil to show what was hidden passed into Old French as reveler and then into Middle English. The modern adjective 'revealing' retains this core logic of exposure, applying it both to physical uncovering (as in clothing) and to the figurative disclosure of information or truth, with the '-ing' suffix indicating its adjectival function describing the action of the verb.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + veal (cover) + ing (adjective suffix)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- veal: From Latin velum (a covering, veil), via Old French reveler.
- ing: Old English origin, a suffix forming present participles and adjectives from verbs.
Examples
She wore a revealing dress to the party.
The documentary was revealing about the politician's early career.
His answer was surprisingly revealing of his true feelings.