Discern1. (v. t.) To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.
2. (v. t.) To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a difference.
3. (v. i.) To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.
4. (v. i.) To make cognizance.
Thesaurus Entries
anticipate, appreciate, apprehend, ascertain, be acquainted with, be apprised of, be aware of, be cognizant of, be conscious of, be conversant with, be informed, behold, catch sight of, clap eyes on, cognize, come alive, comprehend, conceive, conceptualize, descry, detect, difference, differentiate, discover, discriminate, distinguish, divine, espy, extricate, fathom, foresee, glimpse, grasp, have, have in sight, have information about, have knowledge of, identify, ken, know, lay eyes on, look on, look upon, make out, note, notice, observe, penetrate, perceive, pick out, pick up, pierce, plumb, possess, prehend, realize, recognize, remark, savvy, see, see daylight, see into, see the light, see through, seize, sense, separate, sever, sight, spot, spy, take in, twig, understand, view, witness, wot, wot of