secern

verb

se·cern si-ˈsərn

secerned; secerning; secerns

: to discriminate in thought : distinguish

those philistines who seemingly cannot secern artistic depiction of the nude from blatant pornography

Etymology

Latin secernere to separate — more at secret

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of secern was in 1604

See more words from the same year

Style

“Secern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secern. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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