discern

[ dih-surn, -zurn ]
See synonyms for discern on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend: They discerned a sail on the horizon.

  2. to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate: He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.

verb (used without object)
  1. to distinguish or discriminate.

Origin of discern

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin discernere “to separate,” from dis- dis-1 + cernere “to decide, separate, sift”

synonym study For discern

1. See notice.

Other words for discern

Other words from discern

  • dis·cern·er, noun
  • pre·dis·cern, verb (used with object)
  • un·dis·cerned, adjective

Words Nearby discern

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use discern in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for discern

discern

/ (dɪˈsɜːn) /


verb
  1. (tr) to recognize or perceive clearly

  2. to recognize or perceive (differences)

Origin of discern

1
C14: from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere to divide, from dis- 1 (apart) + cernere to separate

Derived forms of discern

  • discerner, noun

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