Archaic KJV Word
Discover
Modern equivalent: uncover
What Was Lost
The raw power of divine revelation. When God's voice 'discovereth the forests,' it strips the trees bare -- the thunderstorm of Psalm 29 tears leaves from branches, exposing the naked forest. The foundations of the world 'discovered' were laid bare by God's wrath. This was not Columbus finding America but God ripping the cover off creation.
Closest Survivor in Modern English
discovery (in legal terms, 'discovery' still means compelling the uncovering of hidden evidence)
Peak Usage (1611)
KJV Psalm 29:9 -- 'The voice of the Lord discovereth the forests'; 2 Samuel 22:16 -- 'The foundations of the world were discovered'
Died ~1750
Shifted from 'to uncover/lay bare/strip naked/reveal' (dis- + cover = remove the covering) to 'to find something new,' losing the violent exposure dimension.
What Replaced It
“uncover”
Closer to the original but weaker; discover implied forceful, dramatic stripping away
“reveal”
Controlled and voluntary; discover-as-uncover was often violent and involuntary
“expose”
Closer in force but carries modern connotations of scandal rather than divine power