[dis.cern] vb [ME, fr. MF discerner, fr. L discernere to separate, distinguish between, fr. dis- apart + cernere to sift--more at dis-, certain] vt (14c) 1 a: to detect with the eyes b: to detect with senses other than vision
2: to recognize or identify as separate and distinct: discriminate
3: to come to know or recognize mentally ~ vi: to see or understand the difference -- dis.cern.er n -- dis.cern.ible also dis.cern.able adj -- dis.cern.ibly adv