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definitions

secern

[ si-surn ]
/ sɪˈsɜrn /
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verb (used with object)

to discriminate or distinguish in thought.

verb (used without object)

to become secerned.

RELATED WORDS

detect, foresee, anticipate, perceive, differentiate, determine, ascertain, distinguish, discriminate, divine, rubberneck, notice, espy, separate, read, remark, spot, discover, extricate, focus

Nearby words

  1. secchi depth,
  2. secchi disk,
  3. secchi, pietro angelo,
  4. secco,
  5. secede,
  6. secernentasida,
  7. secession,
  8. secession, war of,
  9. secessionist,
  10. sech

Origin of secern

1620–30; < Latin sēcernere, equivalent to sē- se- + cernere to sift (cf. discern)
Related formsse·cern·ment, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for secern

British Dictionary definitions for secern

secern

/ (sɪˈsɜːn) /

verb (tr) rare

(of a gland or follicle) to secrete
to distinguish or discriminate
Derived Formssecernment, noun

Word Origin for secern

C17: from Latin sēcernere to separate, from sē- apart + cernere to distinguish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012