Definition of Discern

1. Verb. Detect with the senses. "I can't make out the faces in this photograph"


Definition of Discern

1. v. t. To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.

2. v. i. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.

Definition of Discern

1. Verb. (transitive) To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To distinguish something as being different from something else; to differentiate. ¹

4. Verb. (intransitive) To perceive differences. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Discern

1. to perceive [v -ED, -ING, -S] - See also: perceive

Lexicographical Neighbors of Discern

discardure
discarnate
discase
discased
discases
discasing
discectomies
discectomy
disced
discept
disceptation
disceptations
discepted
discepting
discepts
discern (current term)
discern'd
discernability
discernable
discernance
discerned
discerner
discerners
discerneth
discernibility
discernible
discernibleness
discernibly
discerning
discerningly

Literary usage of Discern

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Sermons on Several Occasions by John Wesley (1836)
"Oh ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" 2. " The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came :" In ..."

2. The Confessions of S. Augustine: Book I-X. by Augustine (1886)
"In this treatise, being blinded by corporeal images, he failed to discern the spiritual nature of God. BUT I saw not yet, the hinge on which this great ..."

3. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: translated out of the (1854)
"... The word that 1 have heard ig good. enemies ; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy ..."

4. The life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1883)
"... at all risks—A ship lost off the island—Go on board the wreck, which I discern to bo Spanish —Procure a great variety of articles from the vessel. ..."

5. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1843)
"A Pagan magistrate, who possessed neither leisure not abilities to discern the almost imperceptible line which divides the ..."

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