dis- ‘apart’ + cernere ‘to separate’

source: https://kongari.tumblr.com/post/64950725802

perceive or recognize (something):

(よく考えた, 調べた後で)…に気づく, …を理解する; ; 〖～ that節/wh節〗 …ということ, …かに気づく, がわかる

e.g. I can discern no difference between the two policies

e.g. with clause : students quickly discern what is acceptable to the teacher.

distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses:

(目や耳で)…をとらえる, 認める (!主に知覚しにくいものについていう)

e.g. she could faintly discern the shape of a skull.

discerner noun

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin discernere, from dis- ‘apart’ + cernere ‘to separate’.