4 uses
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Definition
to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
- Sukeena and I stopped many times, trying to discern the sounds and to separate man from animal.4 — 1909 (75% in)
discern = distinguish (understand)
- From there the stone was whisked to one of several Scottishlooking gentlemen (it was difficult to discern ancestry, given our perspective) who examined the rock, nodded his approval and, applying mortar, positioned it in place.2 — 1907 (28% in)
- I cannot tell you exactly how I discerned this, distracted, even repulsed as I was by the language involved, but the conversation between them went something like this: "This is not what we ordered, Mr. Corbin."2 — 1907 (30% in)
- I swear I hear the words return: "T .... h .... e d .... o .... w .... e .... r." Though these words make no sense to me, I am grateful for any sibilance, any sustenance to what previously was discerned as only wind.8 — 1917 (5% in)
There are no more uses of "discern" in Rose Red.
Typical Usage
(best examples)