discern
To detect with the senses, especially with the eyesTo detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.
» He can't discern fact from fiction.
Er kann Realität und Fiktion nicht unterscheiden.
Он не отличает реальность от вымысла.
Meaning
4 senses(transitive)To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.
erkennen, wahrnehmen, bemerken
распознава́тьraspoznavátʹ, распозна́тьraspoznátʹ, различа́тьrazličátʹ
detect with the senses
(transitive)To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry.
erkennen, verstehen, herauslesen
(transitive)To distinguish something as being different from something else; to differentiate or discriminate.
He was too young to discern right from wrong.
unterscheiden, den Unterschied erkennen zwischen
(intransitive)To perceive differences.
unterscheiden
Examples
16 sentencesHe can't discern fact from fiction.
ruОн не отличает реальность от вымысла.
deEr kann Realität und Fiktion nicht unterscheiden.
He just talks; he doesn't discern.
Carlos needs to discern reality from fiction.
You need to discern nonsense from truth.
Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 3
Origin
From Middle English discernen, from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere (“to separFrom Middle English discernen, from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, discern”), from dis- (“apart”) + cernere (“to distinguish”); see certain.
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Forms
discerns, discerning, discerned, discernedSynonyms
12 synonyms- detect with the senses:spotrecognizerecognisedistinguishpick outmake outtell apart
Word family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle