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.
To discern such buds as are fit to produce
blossoms.
Boyle.
A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not
discern from a right stone.
Robynson (More's
Utopia).
2. To see by the eye or by the understanding;
to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a
difference.
And [I] beheld among the simple ones, I
discerned among the youths, a young man void of
understanding.
Prov. vii. 7.
Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to
discern the minute texture of visible objects.
Beattie.
I wake, and I discern the truth.
Tennyson.
Syn. -- To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate;
discriminate; espy; descry; detect. See Perceive.
Dis*cern", v. i. 1.
To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to
discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.
More than sixscore thousand that cannot discern
between their right hand their left.
Jonah iv.
11.
2. To make cognizance. [Obs.]
Bacon.
