v.
Pronunciation: di- ' s ə rn, - ' z ə rn
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French discerner, from Latin discernere to separate, distinguish between, from dis- apart + cernere to sift ― more at DIS- , CERTAIN
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to detect with the eyes < discern ed a figure approaching through the fog> b : to detect with senses other than vision < discern ed a strange odor>
2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : DISCRIMINATE < discern right from wrong>
3 : to come to know or recognize mentally <unable to discern his motives>
intransitive verb : to see or understand the difference
– dis · cern · er noun
– dis · cern · ible also dis · cern · able \ - ' s ə r-n ə -b ə l, - ' z ə r- \ adjective
– dis · cern · ibly \ -bl ē \ adverb