different between discern vs discerning

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

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d??s??n.i?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /d??s?n.i?/

Verb

discerning

1. present participle of discern

Adjective

discerning (comparative more discerning, superlative most discerning)

1. Of keen insight or good judgement; perceptive.

Related terms

• discern

Translations

Noun

discerning (plural discernings)

1. discernment
   • 1605, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Lear, I. iv. 224:

     Either his notion weakens, his discernings / Are lethargied

Anagrams

• rescinding