prediscovery

adjective

pre·​dis·​cov·​ery ˌprē-di-ˈskə-v(ə-)rē 

variants or pre-discovery

: existing or occurring before discovery: such as

a

: existing or occurring before the discovery of an astronomical object

found a prediscovery photograph of the comet

searched for reports of pre-discovery sightings

b

law : occurring or existing prior to discovery (see discovery sense 3) in a lawsuit

First, pre-discovery summary judgment motions are usually premature and hence disfavored.

—Bourbeau v. Jonathan Woodner Co., 600 F. Supp. 2d 1 (2009)

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above