discern
Use Discern in a sentence
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)
3.
to distinguish or discriminate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To discern
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Discern
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is discredit. Does it mean:
| causing gloom or dejection |
| to injure the reputation of |
Collins
World English Dictionary
discern (dɪˈsɜːn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (tr) to recognize or perceive clearly |
| 2. | to recognize or perceive (differences) |
| [C14: from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere to divide, from | |
| dis'cerner | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
discern
late 14c., from O.Fr. discerner "distinguish, separate" (by sifting), from L. discernere, from dis- "off, away" + cernere "distinguish, separate, sift" (see crisis). Related: Discerned.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
If thou mayst discern by that which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the sight of him.
Geographers use maps as tools to discern patterns and to understand why things are where they are.
Lies, hidden agendas, and the public's inability to discern intent only destroy confidence.
The images have a resolution of three to four nanometers, allowing scientists to discern the structures of individual proteins.
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