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.

To discern such buds as are fit to produce blossoms.

A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not discern from a right stone.

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.

Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to discern the minute texture of visible objects.

I wake, and I discern the truth.

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.

2. To make cognizance. [Obs.] Bacon.