- expose (v.)
- 1474, "to leave without shelter or defense," from M.Fr. exposer "lay open, set forth," from L. exponere "set forth" (see expound), altered by confusion with poser "to place, lay down" (see pose). The use of exposure in the sense of "situation with regard to sun or weather" is from 1664. Exposé "display of discreditable information" was introduced 1803 as a Fr. word (it is the pp. of Fr. exposer); earliest use was in ref. to Napoleon.