discern
verb
To perceive or recognize something; to distinguish with difficulty by sight or other senses; to detect with the mind or intellect.
Etymology
From Latin discernere meaning "to separate, distinguish," from dis- (apart) + cernere (to sift, distinguish, decide).
Examples in Use
- 1.
"She could discern a hint of sadness in his smile."
- 2.
"It was difficult to discern the trail in the dense fog."
- 3.
"The expert could discern authentic antiques from clever reproductions."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The word discern shares its root with "certain" and "concern" - all relate to the Latin cernere, meaning to sift or separate, like separating wheat from chaff to find what's true.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 7 letters (D, I, S, C, E, R, N)
Scrabble Value: 10 points
Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.
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