verb
discern
dih-SURN/dɪˈsɜːrn/
Recognize something through careful observation or thought.
The naturalist tries to discern the camouflaged owl among the branches.
Etymology
The pieces evoke separating things by sifting. That physical separation becomes perceptual or mental distinction: discerning something means picking it out clearly from what surrounds it.
In context
He just sat still, returning my look with cold motionless eyes, no doubt trying to discern the features of the man he had wronged through the film of age.
More examples
- He discerned a pattern in the scattered reports.
- The critic discerned humor beneath the story’s sadness.
- It was difficult to discern which voice belonged to whom.
Forms
discern · discerns · discerned · discerning
discernment noun — the ability to notice or judge subtle distinctions