\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}.

\Dis*cern"\, v. i.
1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction;
   as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.
         More than sixscore thousand that cannot discern
         between their right hand their left.  --Jonah iv.
                                               11.
2. To make cognizance. [Obs.] --Bacon.