discern

English

/dɪˈsɜːn/, /dɪˈsɝn/, /dɪˈzɜːn/, /dɪˈzɝn/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.
  • (transitive) To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry.
  • (transitive) To distinguish something as being different from something else; to differentiate.
  • (intransitive) To perceive differences.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English discernen borrowed from Old French discerner derived from Latin discernere (separate, divide, discern, distinguish) root from Proto-Indo-European *krey- (separate, seive, divide, touch, strip, sieve, sift, graze, split, I separate, shake, streak, pick out, I move, part).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*krey-

Gloss

separate, seive, divide, touch, strip, sieve, sift, graze, split, I separate, shake, streak, pick out, I move, part

Concept
Semantic Field

Spatial relations

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

分

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms