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# discern

verb (discern, discerns, discerned, discerning)

«discern» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To see, hear or notice something that is hard to see or hear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#m1)
2. To understand or recognise something, often a difference, by thinking carefully. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#m2)
3. (formal) To tell apart, such as right from wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#m3)

### In the lessons

In reading lessons, pupils discern the author's meaning or a character's feelings from clues. In science, you may discern a pattern in data. In fog or dark, you can barely discern shapes. In church and ethics, Christians speak of discerning what is right or what God wants. Phrases: «hard to discern», «discern between», «discern a pattern».

### Examples

- Through the fog we could just discern the lighthouse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x1)
- Can you discern a pattern in these numbers? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x2)
- It was hard to discern what she meant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x3)
- Babies soon learn to discern their mother's voice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x4)
- Good readers discern clues the writer has hidden. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x5)
- He could not discern any difference between the two cakes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x6)
- The judge must discern truth from lies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x7)
- So rapidly did they grow, that Cadmus now discerned the fierce countenance of a man beneath every one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/#x8)

### Note

Formal word; pronounced «di-SURN» (the «s» sounds like «s», sometimes «z»). Adjective: discerning (good at judging quality). Noun: discernment. In everyday talk people say «make out» or «spot».

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means to recognize or tell apart. Isaac could not recognize Jacob by his hairy hands, and Jacob told Laban to identify what was his.

**Interpretation.** The passage about discerning one's "latter end" is read as a call to wisdom, to look ahead to the results of one's actions. Isaac's failure to discern is a part of the story of the blessing.

### Examples

- If they were wise, they would understand this, they would discern their latter end. (Torah DEU.32.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/discern/#x1)
- And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him. (Torah GEN.27.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/discern/#x2)
- With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, he shall not live; before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee.' — For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. — (Torah GEN.31.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/discern/#x3)
- Cannot my taste discern crafty devices? (Writings JOB.6.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/discern/#x4)
- It is not the great that are wise, nor the aged that discern judgment. (Writings JOB.32.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/discern/#x5)
- And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could discern another. (Writings RUT.3.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/discern/#x6)

### Note

Formal word; pronounced «di-SURN» (the «s» sounds like «s», sometimes «z»). Adjective: discerning (good at judging quality). Noun: discernment. In everyday talk people say «make out» or «spot».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «discern» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discern/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«discern» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/discern.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «discern» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/discern/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«discern» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/discern.html) on Mova free.