- Discerned
- Discern Dis*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Discerned}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Discerning}.] [F. discerner, L. discernere,
discretum; dis- + cernere to separate, distinguish. See
{Certain}, and cf. {Discreet}.]
1. To see and identify by noting a difference or differences;
to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to
distinguish.
[1913 Webster]
To discern such buds as are fit to produce blossoms. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not discern from a right stone. --Robynson (More's Utopia). [1913 Webster]
2. To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a difference. [1913 Webster]
And [I] beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. --Prov. vii. 7. [1913 Webster]
Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to discern the minute texture of visible objects. --Beattie. [1913 Webster]
I wake, and I discern the truth. --Tennyson.
Syn: To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate; discriminate; espy; descry; detect. See {Perceive}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.