different between characterize vs discern

English

Alternative forms

• characterise

Etymology

From Medieval Latin characterizare, from Ancient Greek ??????????? (kharakt?ríz?, “to designate by a characteristic mark”), from ???????? (kharakt?r, “a mark, character”). Synchronically analyzable as character +? -ize.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k???kt??a?z/, /?kæ??kt??a?z/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?kæ??kt??a?z/
• Hyphenation: char?ac?ter?ize

Verb

characterize (third-person singular simple present characterizes, present participle characterizing, simple past and past participle characterized)

1. (transitive) To depict someone or something a particular way (often negative).
2. (transitive) To be typical of.
3. (transitive) To determine the characteristics of.

Derived terms

• characterization
• subcharacterize

Translations

Further reading

• characterize in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• characterize in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Middle English discernen, from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, discern”), from dis- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”); see certain.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??(?)n

(modern pronunciation)

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??s??n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /d??s?n/

(older pronunciation)

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??z??n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /d??z?n/

Verb

discern (third-person singular simple present discerns, present participle discerning, simple past and past participle discerned)

1. (transitive) To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.
2. (transitive) To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry.
3. (transitive) To distinguish something as being different from something else; to differentiate.

4. (intransitive) To perceive differences.

Synonyms

• (detect with the senses): See also Thesaurus:perceive
  • (especially with the eyes): behold, see; see also Thesaurus:see
• (perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind): ken, spy; see also Thesaurus:spot
• (distinguish something as being different): discriminate, distinguish; see also Thesaurus:tell apart

Derived terms

• discernible
• discernment
• indiscernible

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• Cinders, cinders, rescind