secern
verb
se·cern si-ˈsərn 
secerned; secerning; secerns
transitive verb
: to discriminate in thought : distinguish
Synonyms
- difference
- differentiate
- discern
- discriminate
- distinguish
- separate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Latin secernere to separate — more at secret
First Known Use
1604, in the meaning defined above
secerns
verb
as in differentiates
to understand or point out the difference in those philistines who seemingly cannot secern artistic depiction of the nude from blatant pornography Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- differentiates
- differences
- distinguishes
- discriminates
- contradistinguishes
- discerns
- separates
- sets off
- understands
- knows
- divides
- severs
- comprehends
- parts
- demarcates
- marks (off)
- grasps
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mistakes
- mixes (up)
- confuses
- lumps (together)
- confounds
- mingles
- pro bono
- pro bono publico
- pro forma
- pro forma balance sheet
- pro forma invoice
- pro hac vice
- pro indiviso
- pro memoria
- pro mille
- pro number
- pro patria
- pro rata
- pro re
- pro re nata
- pro rege, lege, et grege
- pro shop
- pro tem
- pro tempore
- pro-abortionist
- pro-am
- pro-choice
- pro-choicer
- pro-family
- pro-in
- pro-inflammatory