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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Discern

Dis-cĕrn’, v. t.

verbtransitive

(diz-zĕrn’, 14, 65), v. t. [imp. & p. p. DISCERNED; p. pr. & vb. n. DISCERNING.] [Lat. discernere, from dis and cernere, to separate, to distinguish by the senses, especially by the eyes, to perceive; Fr. discerner, Sp. & Pg. discernir, It. discernere, scernere.]

Sense 1. To behold as separate; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.

So is my lord the king to discern good and bad. 2 Sam. xiv. 17.

Sense 2. To make out and distinguish by the eye; to perceive and recognize.

Sense 3. To perceive with the mind; to have cognizance of; to apprehend with distinctness.

Sense 4. To mark as different; to separate from other things and distinguish.

For nothing else discerns the virtue or the vice. B. Jonson.

Synonyms—To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate; discriminate; espy; descry. See PERCEIVE.

Dis-cĕrn', v. t.

verbtransitive

(diz-zĕrn'), v. t. 1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood. 2. To take cognizance. [Obs.] Bacon.