All 7 Uses of
discern
in
Silas Marner
- But whatever blemishes others might discern in William, to his friend's mind he was faultless;
Chpt 1.1 *discern = notice
- Marner's cottage had no thatch; and Dunstan's first act, after a train of thought made rapid by the stimulus of cupidity, was to go up to the bed; but while he did so, his eyes travelled eagerly over the floor, where the bricks, distinct in the fire-light, were discernible under the sprinkling of sand.†
Chpt 1.4
- It was not Wildfire; and in a few moments more he discerned that the rider was not Dunstan, but Bryce, who pulled up to speak, with a face that implied something disagreeable.†
Chpt 1.8
- "I should be glad to see a good change in anybody, Mr. Godfrey," she answered, with the slightest discernible difference of tone, "but it 'ud be better if no change was wanted."†
Chpt 1.11
- Bending forward, he could just discern the marks made by the little feet on the virgin snow, and he followed their track to the furze bushes.†
Chpt 1.12
- She was not theologically instructed enough to discern very clearly the relation between the sacred documents of the past which she opened without method, and her own obscure, simple life; but the spirit of rectitude, and the sense of responsibility for the effect of her conduct on others, which were strong elements in Nancy's character, had made it a habit with her to scrutinize her past feelings and actions with self-questioning solicitude.†
Chpt 2.17
- Godfrey, unqualified by experience to discern the pregnancy of Marner's simple words, felt rather angry again.†
Chpt 2.19
Definition:
-
(discern) to notice or understand something -- often something that is not obvious