Discern
/dɪˈsɜːrn/noun
To perceive, recognize, or distinguish something with clarity.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin *discernere*, meaning “to sift apart” or “separate,” which is why it originally carried the image of sorting reality into distinct pieces.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*krei-
“to sieve, sift, separate”
Latin
Latin
cernere
“to separate, sift, decide”
Latin
Latin
discernere
“to separate apart, distinguish”
Old French
Old French
discernir
“to distinguish, perceive clearly”
Middle English
English
discernen
“to distinguish, recognize”
Modern English
English
discern
“to perceive or recognize with clarity”