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. [ 1913 Webster ]

To discern such buds as are fit to produce blossoms. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not discern from a right stone. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a difference. [ 1913 Webster ]

And [ I ] beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. Prov. vii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to discern the minute texture of visible objects. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

I wake, and I discern the truth. Tennyson.

Syn. -- To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate; discriminate; espy; descry; detect. See Perceive. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood. [ 1913 Webster ]

More than sixscore thousand that cannot discern between their right hand their left. Jonah iv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make cognizance. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Discernment. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, discerns, distinguishes, perceives, or judges; as, a discerner of truth, of right and wrong. [ 1913 Webster ]

A great observer and discerner of men's natures. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. discernibilis. ] Capable of being discerned by the eye or the understanding; as, a star is discernible by the eye; the identity of difference of ideas is discernible by the understanding. [ 1913 Webster ]

The effect of the privations and sufferings . . . was discernible to the last in his temper and deportment. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Perceptible; distinguishable; apparent; visible; evident; manifest. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being discernible. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a manner to be discerned; perceptibly; visibly. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a discerning manner; with judgment; judiciously; acutely. Garth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. discernement. ] 1. The act of discerning. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The power or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one thing from another; power of viewing differences in objects, and their relations and tendencies; penetrative and discriminate mental vision; acuteness; sagacity; insight; as, the errors of youth often proceed from the want of discernment.

Syn. -- Judgment; acuteness; discrimination; penetration; sagacity; insight. -- Discernment, Penetration, Discrimination. Discernment is keenness and accuracy of mental vision; penetration is the power of seeing deeply into a subject in spite of everything that intercepts the view; discrimination is a capacity of tracing out minute distinctions and the nicest shades of thought. A discerning man is not easily misled; one of a penetrating mind sees a multitude of things which escape others; a discriminating judgment detects the slightest differences. [ 1913 Webster ]