də̇ˈs]ərn, ]ə̄n, ]əin also -ˈz] verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English discernen, from Middle French discerner, from Latin discernere to separate, distinguish between, from dis- apart + cernere to sift — more at dis- , certain
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make out with the eyes (as something obscure or distant) : detect , descry
could discern a narrow path winding up the mountainside
a convoy of 30 vessels was discerned this morning by our forces — Sir Winston Churchill
b. : to detect or discover with other senses than vision
discerned a strange unfamiliar odor in the room
discerned the muffled sobbing of a child
2. : to sense or come to know or recognize mentally especially something that is hidden or obscure
the inductive apprehension of a truth imperfectly discerned — B.N.Cardozo
the ability to discern and analyze the essentials of complicated questions — K.C.Wheare
3. : distinguish: as
a. obsolete : to mark as separate and distinct : put a distinguishing mark upon
b. : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : differentiate , discriminate
discern right from wrong
discern the false from the genuine
intransitive verb
: to see or understand the difference : to make distinction
discern between good and evil
Synonyms: see see