Definition of discern

nocturnal Definition: (adjective) of the night; active at night. Petersons.com

Add Word of the Day to your personalized My Yahoo! page: About My Yahoo! and RSS »

Email this page to a friend

< disc brake

discernible >

dis·cern    (d-sûrn, -zûrn) KEY  

VERB:
dis·cerned , dis·cern·ing , dis·cerns
VERB:
tr.

1. To perceive with the eyes or intellect; detect.
2. To recognize or comprehend mentally.
3. To perceive or recognize as being different or distinct; distinguish. See Synonyms at see ¹.

VERB:
intr.

To perceive differences.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English discernen, from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere, to separate : dis-, apart ; see dis- + cernere, to perceive; see krei- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
dis·cerner (Noun)

Visit our partner's site

	Provided by Houghton Mifflin eReference -- Download this interactive reference software to your desktop computer

Search Dictionary:

More on Yahoo! Education

• Online and On-Campus Degree Programs     MBAs  -  Technology Management  -  Education  -  Health  -  More  • College & Grad School - A Comprehensive Guide     College Search  -  Test Prep  -  Application Tips  -  Scholarship Search