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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.