rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: cernere
Latin

cernere

separate, sift, or distinguish

Forms

  • cernere
  • cret- — The changed form used for completed action.
  • -cern- — The form retained in some compounds.

Origin

From an older Indo-European family associated with separating and sifting.

Note

Separating things physically supplied a model for distinguishing them in thought.

9 / 14
A small, irregular pile of brown feces on a sparse patch of grass and soil, shown plainly without people or decorative elements.
noun

excrement

EKS-krih-munt/ˈekskrɪmənt/

Waste matter discharged from the bowels.

Etymology
exLatinout, away; also thoroughly
+creLatinseparate, sift, or distinguish
+mentLatina means, result, or product

The roots picture material sifted or separated out of the body. Excrement originally covered bodily secretions generally, then narrowed especially to waste from the bowels.

Full entry

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