Webster's English Dictionary

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discern

dis.cern \dis-'*rn, diz-\ \-'*r-n*-b*l\ \-ble-\ vb [ME discernen, fr. MF 
   discerner, fr. L discernere to separate], distinguish between, fr. dis- 
   apart + cernere to sift 1a: to detect with the eyes  1b: to detect with 
   other senses than vision  2: to come to know or recognize mentally  3: to 
   recognize or identify as separate and distinct : DISCRIMINATEM : to see or 
   understand the difference  - dis.cern.er n