discern



discern between someone or something and someone or something

to detect the difference between people and things. I cannot discern between the dark trees and the dark sky behind them. I cannot discern between the person and the background.
See also: and, discern

discern someone or something from something (else)

to detect the difference between someone or something and something else. I can hardly discern Tom from the busy background in this picture. I can't discern anything from that cluttered scene.
See also: discern

discern something from someone or something

to learn or determine something from someone or something. We discerned a lot from the eyewitnesses. We discerned a lot from our discussions with the past president.
See also: discern

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Hess[hes]
Isa (2)EE-sah: (Dutch)German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish
OsbornAHZ-bornEnglish
Unathi-Southern African, Xhosa
AoibhÍNEE-veenIrish
Roser-Catalan