Conspicuous and conspicuously are related, but today learn discern
Discern means to notice or recognize something, especially when it is not immediately obvious. It comes from Latin discernere, meaning to separate or distinguish. From the back of a dim hall, you might discern a doorway without being able to make out the smaller lettering on the sign above it.
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Recognizing what is difficult to make out
Discern is a verb meaning to perceive, recognize or distinguish something. It comes from Latin discernere, meaning to separate or distinguish.
You might discern a faint shape in poor light or discern a difference between two similar sounds. The word often suggests that the thing is subtle, unclear or requires close attention.
Useful sentence patterns include:
- Discern a shape in the distance.
- Discern a difference between two versions.
Discern does not always involve eyesight. A reader can discern a change in a writer's tone, and a listener can discern hesitation in an answer. State the feature actually noticed rather than using the word to imply that a person's hidden intentions are automatically known.