discerno Latin · revision 4527

15 Oct 2026, 23:25 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Varro|origins=la cernō}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [dɪsˈkɛr.noː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diʃˈʃɛr.no]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''discernō''' (present infinitive discernere, perfect active discrēvī, supine discrētum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[af|la|dis-|cernō|t2=to sift, separate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) Apuleius has a contracted perfect form, ⟨discrerit⟩.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Varro, in his book on farming, says the lambs are fed on milk and then separated again from their mothers.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant to separate or set apart, as Sallust speaks of a mountain marking off territories.^(Gaffiot 2016) Lewis & Short note this literal sense is frequent from the Augustan period.^(Lewis & Short 1879) With the mind or senses it meant to distinguish, as Cicero says someone could not tell his wife from his sister.^(OLD 2012) It also meant to settle a dispute, as Virgil's boundary stone placed to settle a quarrel over fields.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein contrasts ''discernere'', to distinguish by judgement, with [[distinguo|alt=distinguere]], to distinguish by marks.^(Döderlein 1874)
+ 
+ In medieval Latin it meant to divide and separate, and also to sift.^(MLW) [[en|discern]] is recorded in the late 14th century through Old French ''discerner'', and [[en|discreet]] comes from its participle [[discretus|alt=discrētus]], “discerning, careful” in medieval Latin.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of separating lambs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of separating territories.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of distinguishing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''discern'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Verb===
+ # To separate, divide, set apart.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # To distinguish, [[m|en|discern]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # To settle, decide a dispute.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[discernibilis]]
+ * [[discerniculum]]
+ * [[discrebilis]]
+ * [[discrētim]]
+ * [[discrētiō]]
+ * [[discrētīvus]]
+ * [[discrētor]]
+ * [[discretorium]]
+ * [[indiscrētus]]
+ * [[discernenter]]
+ * [[discrētus]]
+ * [[discrīmen]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[cernō]]
+ * [[concernō]]
+ * [[dēcernō]]
+ * [[excernō]]
+ * [[incernō]]
+ * [[sēcernō]]
+ * [[en|discern]]
+ * [[en|discreet]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}