All 11 Uses
discern
in
Dante's Purgatory -- translated by Norton
(Auto-generated)
- The dawn was vanquishing the matin hour which fled before it, so that from afar I discerned the trembling of the sea.†
Canto 1-11 *discerned = noticed something that is not obvious
- "Surely, my Master," said I, "never yet saw I so clearly, as I now discern there where my wit seemed deficient; for the mid-circle of the supernal motion, which is called Equator in a certain art,[4] and which always remains between the sun and the winter, for the reason that thou tellest, from here departs toward the north, while the Hebrews saw it toward the warm region.†
Canto 1-11discern = notice or understand something
- I clearly discerned in them their blond heads, but on their faces the eye was dazzled, as a faculty which is confounded by excess.†
Canto 1-11discerned = noticed something that is not obvious
- But look fixedly there, and disentangle with thy sight that which cometh beneath those stones; now thou canst discern how each is smitten.†
Canto 1-11discern = notice or understand something
- how cast down and abject the image which is there discerned showed thee!†
Canto 12-22discerned = noticed something that is not obvious
- Heaven calls you, and around you circles, displaying to you its eternal beauties, and your eye looks only on the ground; wherefore He who discerns everything scourges you.†
Canto 12-22discerns = notices things that are not obvious
- Wherefore it was needful to impose law as a bridle; needful to have a king who could discern at least the tower of the true city.†
Canto 12-22discern = notice or understand something
- "O Marco mine," said I, "thou reasonest well; and now I discern why the sons of Levi were excluded from the heritage;[1] but what Gherardo is that, who, thou sayest, remains for sample of the extinct folk, in reproach of the barbarous age?"†
Canto 12-22
- Then I, "My sight is so vivified in thy light that I discern clearly all that thy discourse may imply or declare: therefore I pray thee, sweet Father dear, that thou demonstrate to me the love to which thou referrest every good action and its contrary."†
Canto 12-22
- When beneath us all the stairway had been run, and we were on the topmost step, Virgil fixed his eyes on me, and said, "The temporal fire and the eternal thou hast seen, son, and art come to a place where of myself no further onward I discern.†
Canto 23-33
- For grace do us the grace that thou unveil to hum thy mouth, so that he may discern the second beauty which thou concealest.†
Canto 23-33
Definitions:
-
(1)
(discern) to notice or understand something -- often something that is not obvious
- (2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)