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discern

 - 3 dictionary results

dis⋅cern

  [di-surn, -zurn]
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.
Origin:
1300–50; ME (< OF) < L discernere to separate, equiv. to dis- dis- 1 + cernere to separate

Related forms:
dis⋅cern⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. discover, descry, espy. See notice. 2, 3. differentiate, judge.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To discern
dis·cern   (dĭ-sûrn', -zûrn')   
v.   dis·cerned, dis·cern·ing, dis·cerns

v.   tr.

  1. To perceive with the eyes or intellect; detect.

  2. To recognize or comprehend mentally.

  3. To perceive or recognize as being different or distinct; distinguish. See Synonyms at see1.

v.   intr.
To perceive differences.

[Middle English discernen, from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere, to separate : dis-, apart; see dis- + cernere, to perceive; see krei- in Indo-European roots.]
dis·cern'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

discern 
c.1374, from O.Fr. discerner "distinguish, separate" (by sifting), from L. discernere, from dis- "off, away" + cernere "distinguish, separate, sift" (see crisis).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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