different between discerning vs afflictive

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

English

Etymology

afflict +? -ive

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?kt?v

Adjective

afflictive (comparative more afflictive, superlative most afflictive)

1. That causes physical or mental pain.
   • 1716, Thomas Browne, Christian Morals, 2nd edition edited by Samuel Johnson, London: J. Payne, 1756, Part I, p. 44,^[1]

     […] we consider not sufficiently the good of evils, nor fairly compute the mercies of PROVIDENCE in things afflictive at first hand.

   • 1718, Alexander Pope (translator), The Iliad of Homer, London: Bernard Lintot, Volume 4, Book 14, p. 96,^[2]

     All this from Jove’s afflictive Hand we bear:

     Who, far from Argos, wills our Ruin here.

   • 1718, Matthew Prior “Henry and Emma” in Poems on Several Occasions, London: Jacob Tonson, p. 229,^[3]

     But canst Thou, tender Maid, canst Thou sustain

     Afflictive Want, or Hunger’s pressing Pain?

   • 1847, Anne Brontë (pseudonym Acton Bell), Agnes Grey, Chapter 3,^[4]

     In my childhood I could not imagine a more afflictive punishment than for my mother to refuse to kiss me at night: the very idea was terrible.

Derived terms

• afflictively

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.flik.tiv/
• Homophone: afflictives

Adjective

afflictive

1. feminine singular of afflictif