discept a tort (diseptator)

[L. discept a tor, discept are dispute: see disceptation.] A disputant. The inquisitive disceptators of this age would, at the persuasion of illiterate persons, turn their ergo into amen to the evangelical philosopher. Cowley, E ays, xxix. IMG:content-2748.png:[blocks in formation] 2 Sam. xiv. 17. How easy is a noble spirit discerned From harsh and sulphurous matter, that flies out B. Jonson, Cat i line, iv. 1. In contumelies! They are like men who have lost the faculty of discern ing colours, and who never, by any exercise of reason, can make out the difference between white and black. J. H. Newman, Parochial Sermons, i. 234. 21. To indicate or constitute the difference between; show the distinction between. cerning mind. This hath been maintained not only by warm enthusiasts, but by cooler and more discerning heads. Bp . Atterbury. A glance, a touch, discovers to the wise; But every man has not discerning eyes. Dryden , Art of Poetry, iii. 801. True modesty is a discerning grace, And only blushes in the proper place. J. Bradford, Letters (Parker Soc., 1853), II. 138. The coward and the valiant man must fall, Only the cause, and manner how, discerns them. B. Jonson, Sejanus, iii. 1. Poets, to give a loose to a warm fancy, are generally too apt not only to expatiate in their similes, but introduce them too frequently. These two errors Ovid has most dis cerningly avoided. Garth , tr. of Ovid, Pref. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding. Prov. vii. 7. For though our eyes can nought but colours see, Yet colours give them not their powre of sight; So, though these fruits of sense her objects bee, Yet she disc ernes them by her proper light. Sir J. Davies, Nosce Teipsum. Bell on i us reports that the dores thereof [Sancta Sophia] are in number equall to the days of the yeare; whereas if it hath five, it hath more by one then by me was dis Sandys, Travailes, p. 25. cerned. It being dark, they could not see the make of our Ship, nor very well discern what we were. Dampier , Voyages, I. 301. 4. To discover by the intellect; gain knowledge of; become aware of; distinguish. A wise man's heart discern eth both time and judgment. Eccl. viii. 5. The nature of justice can be more easily discerned in a state than in one man. Bancroft, Hist. Const., I. 4. To discern our immortality is nece arily connected with fear and trembling and repentance, in the case of every Christian. J. H. Newman , Parochial Sermons, i. 17. =Syn. 3 and 4. To perceive, recognize, mark, note, espy, descry. II. in trans. 1. To perceive a difference or distinction; make or establish a distinction; discriminate: as, to discern between truth and falsehood. Another faculty we may take notice of in our minds is that of discerning and distinguishing between the several ideas it has. Locke, Human Understanding, II. xi. 1. The Philosopher whose discoveries now dazzle us could not once discern between his right hand and his left. Channing, Perfect Life, p. 116. 2t. To see; penetrate by the eye. On the north side there was such a precipice as they Winthrop, Hist. New England, II. 81. could scarce discern to the bottom. 31. To have judicial cognizance: with of . It discern eth of forces, frauds, crimes various, of stellionate, and the inchoations towards crimes capital, not actually perpetrated. Bacon . Most of the magistrates (though they discerned of the offence clothed with all these circumstances) would have been more moderate in their censure. Winthrop, Hist. New England, I. 380. discern ablet (di-zer'na-bl), a. [ discer nable , F. discernable ; as discern + -able .] See discernible .