3 uses
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Definition
to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
- They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon, but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in water.Part 1 — A Voyage to Lilliput (56% in)
- He was amazed at the continual noise it made, and the motion of the minute-hand, which he could easily discern; for their sight is much more acute than ours: he asked the opinions of his learned men about it, which were various and remote, as the reader may well imagine without my repeating; although indeed I could not very perfectly understand them.Part 1 — A Voyage to Lilliput (31% in)
- I saw him try both experiments upon a dog, but could not discern any effect from the former.Part 3 — A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, .... (44% in)
There are no more uses of "discern" in Gulliver's Travels.
Typical Usage
(best examples)