secern

[ si-surn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to discriminate or distinguish in thought.

verb (used without object)

1. to become secerned.

secern

/ sɪˈsɜːn /

verb

1. (of a gland or follicle) to secrete
2. to distinguish or discriminate

Derived Forms

• seˈcernment, noun

Other Words From

• se·cernment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of secern¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin sēcernere, from sē- se- + cernere “to decide, separate, sift” ( discern )

Word History and Origins

Origin of secern¹

C17: from Latin sēcernere to separate, from sē- apart + cernere to distinguish

Example Sentences

Oxford High School in Michigan is planning for a "slow reopening" by the end of January following a school shooting that killed four students and left secern other individuals injured.

From Fox News

At the risk of coming off as condescending, the built-in fanbase for superhero movies have never shown themselves to be particularly secerning.

From The Guardian

The act of secerning; the act of producing from the blood substances different front the blood itself, as bile, saliva.

From Project Gutenberg

Fourthly, the secerning vessels become affected by the general diminution of sensorial power; whence all the secreted fluids are produced in less quantity.

From Project Gutenberg

The Circle secerned from the Square; and its area gauged in terms of a triangle common to both.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anticipate
• ascertain
• detect
• determine
• differentiate
• discriminate
• distinguish
• divine
• figure out
• find out
• foresee
• perceive