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.
--Boyle.

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

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.
--Prov. vii.
7.

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

I wake, and I discern the truth. --Tennyson.

Syn: To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate;
discriminate; espy; descry; detect. See {Perceive}.