All 4 Uses of
discern
in
The Idiot
- Little by little he began to look around him and discern the other guests.†
Chpt 1.15 *discern = notice or understand something
- It was impossible to discern in her now anything but a deep feeling for the spirit of the poem which she had undertaken to interpret.†
Chpt 2.7
- "There is much that might be improved in him," said the prince, moderately, "but he has some qualities which—though amid them one cannot but discern a cunning nature—reveal what is often a diverting intellect."†
Chpt 4.4
- Rumour said that in the visit of Evgenie Pavlovitch was to be discerned the influence of Lizabetha Prokofievna and her husband...But if those good souls, in the boundless kindness of their hearts, were desirous of saving the eccentric young fellow from ruin, they were unable to take any stronger measures to attain that end.†
Chpt 4.10discerned = noticed something that is not obvious
Definition:
to notice or understand something -- often something that is not obvious