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discerner

to discern

verb dees-ehr-NEH Rare

Also means

to make out

Usage Note

Discerner means to perceive or distinguish something, whether visually or intellectually: discerner la vérité du mensonge — 'to tell truth from lies'. The related noun discernement (judgment, discernment) is common in formal writing. The adjective discernable describes something that can be perceived.

Examples

"On discerne à peine la côte dans le brouillard."

Natural Translation

The coast can barely be made out in the fog.

Literal Translation

One discerns barely the coast in the fog.

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