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dis·cern
 discern
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- pronunciation:
- dih
suhrn
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Grammatical Patterns
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
discerns, discerning, discerned |
| definition 1: |
to perceive, make out, or detect.
When the smoke cleared a little, he discerned a figure slumped in a chair.She listened carefully and was able to discern that the man had a slight Swedish accent.[verb + (that) + clause
]
- synonyms:
- descry, detect, distinguish, perceive
- similar words:
- ascertain, behold, espy, notice, observe, recognize, see, sight, spot
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| definition 2: |
to distinguish or discriminate.
He discerned some sympathizers in the hostile crowd.- synonyms:
- discriminate, distinguish, pick out
- similar words:
- detect, determine, smell, tell
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| related words: |
appreciate, comprehend, discover, identify, judge, penetrate, perceive, realize, see, sense, spot |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to recognize differences; discriminate.
- synonyms:
- differentiate, discriminate, distinguish
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| related words: |
judge |
adverb + (v.)discern
accurately, barely, clearly, easily, harder, initially, last, nevertheless, properly, readily
(v.)discern
+ adverb
correctly
(v.)discern
+ noun
clue,
criterion,
detail,
difference,
element,
evil,
fate,
feature,
implication,
influence,
intent,
intention,
logic,
meaning,
motivation,
motive,
nature,
norm,
nuance,
outline,
pattern,
personality,
phenomenon,
purpose,
reflection,
scripture,
shape,
sign,
significance,
spirit,
strand,
subtlety,
tendency,
tension,
trait,
trajectory,
trend,
truth,
variation,
virtue,
weakness,
will
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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| derivation: |
discerner (n.) |
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