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

Other Word Forms

• secernment 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.

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

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

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

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

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Related Words

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