discard 
+ card 1 . Cf. dccard.] I. trans. 1. In card- 
playing : (a) In some games, to throw aside or 
reject from the hand, as a card dealt to the 
player which by the laws of the game is not 
needed or can be exchanged, (b) In other 
games, as whist, to throw away on a trick, as 
a card (not a trump) of a different suit from 
that led, when one cannot follow suit and cau- 
not or does not wish to trump. 
Having ace, kind, queen, andknaveof a suit not led, you 
would discard the ace. Potf, Whist, v. 
2. To dismiss, as from service or employment; 
cast off. 
They blame the favourites, and think It nothing extra- 
ordinary that the queen should . . . resolve to discard 
them. Swift. 
Their [the Hydes'} sole crime was their religion ; and for 
this crime they had been discarded. 
Macaulay, Hist. ng. t vi. 
3. To thrust away; reject: as, to discard pre- 
judices. 
I am rcsolv'd : grief, I discard thee now ; 
Anger mid fury in thy place must enter. 
Beau, and Fl. ('.'). Faithful Friends, iii. 3. 
Still, though earth anil man diicard thee, 
Doth thy Heavenly Father guard thee. 
Wkittier, Mugg Megone, III. 
=8jTl. 2. To turn away, discharge. 
fl. intrans. In curd-playing, to throw cards 
out of the hand. See I. 
In dixcardintj from a suit of which you have full com- 
mand, It is a convention to throw away the highest. 
Pale, Whist, iv. 
discard (dis-kiird'),)i. [(discard, t'.] l.Ineard- 
playing : (a) The act of throwing out of the hand 
such cards as are unnecessary in the game, or 
of playing, as in whist, a card not a trump of a 
different suit from that led. 
In the modern game, your first discard should be from 
a weak or short suit. Pole, Whist, II. 
(6) The card or cards thrown out of the hand. 
The discard must be placed face downwards on the table, 
apart from the stock and from the adversary's discard. 
Cavendish, Whist. 
Hence 2. One who or that which is cast out or 
rejected. [Bare.] 
The discard of society, living mainly on strong drink, fed 
with affronts, a fool, a thief, the comrade of thieves. 
It. L. Stevenson, Fulvis et I'mbra, 
discardment (dis-kard'ment), n. [< discard + 
-mcnt.] The act of discarding. [Rare.] 
Just at present we apparently are making ready for 
another discardment. Science, VII. 295. 
discardure (dis-kar'dur), n. [< discard + -tire.] 
A discarding; dismissal; rejection. [Rare.] 
In what shape does it constitute a plea for the discardttre 
of religion ? Hayter, On Hume's Dialogues (1780), p. 38. 
discarnatet (dis-kiir'nat), a. [< L. dig- priv. -f 
LL. carnatus, of flesh, fleshy, fat, corpulent, < 
L. caro (earn-), flesh. Cf. incarnate.] Stripped 
of flesh ; fleshless. 
A memory, like a sepulchre, furnished with a load of 
broken and discarnate fxmes. 
Olanville, Vanity of Dogmatizing, xv. 
disease (dis-kas'), v. t.; pret. and pp. diseased, 
ppr. diseasing. [< di- priv. + case 2 . ] To take the 
case or covering from ; uncase ; strip ; undress. 
Disease thee instantly, . . . and change garments with 
this gentleman. Shak., W. T., iv. 3. 
discattert, v. t. See disscatter. 
disceivablet, See deceivable. Chaucer. 
disceptationt (dis-ep-ta'shon), n. [= F. discen- 
tntion = Sp. disceptacion = Pg. disceptacSo, < L. 
disccptatio(n-), < disceptare, pp. disceptatus, dis- 
pute, prop, settle a dispute, determine, < dis-, 
apart, + cimtare, freq. of capere, pp. eaptun, 
take, seize.] Controversy. 
The proposition is ... such as ought not to be ad- 
mitted in any science, or any discevtation. 
Barrow, Works, II. lit 
disceptatort (dis'ep-ta-tor), . [< L. discepta- 
tor, < disceptare, dispute: see disceptation.] A. 
disputant. 
The inquisitive ditceptators of this age would, at the 
persuasion of illiterate persons, turn their ergo into amen 
t" the evangelical philosopher. Cmrley, Essays, xxix. 
disceptert, r. t. See disscepter. 
discern (di-zern'), r. [< ME. discernen, < OF. 
discrrner, descerner, discernir, F. discerner = 
Sp. Pg. disceriiir = It. discernere, scernere, < L. 
discernere, pp. discretus, separate, divide, distin- 
guish, discern, < dis-, apart, + cernere = Gr. 
npivctv, separate : see certain, cri tic, etc. Hence 
discreet, discrete, etc.] I. trans. 1. To distin- 
guish; perceive the difference between (two or 
more things) ; discriminate. 
Discern tlum what is thine with me, and take it to thee. 
lien. xxxl. 32. 
1646 
For as an angel of God, to U my lord the king to ail- 
cern good and bad. 1 Sam. xiv. 17. 
How easy is a noble spirit discerned 
From harsh and sulphurous matU-r. that flies out 
In omtumclles! B. Jonmn, Catiline, Iv. 1. 
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. 11. Xewman, Parochial Sermons, i. 234. 
2f. To indicate or constitute the difference be- 
tween ; show the distinction between. 
The only thing that disceriieth the child of God from 
the wicked Is this faith, trust, and hupe In God's good- 
ness, through Christ. 
J. Bradford, Letters (Parker Soc., 1853), II. 138. 
The coward and the valiant man must fall, 
Only the cause, and manner how, dincerns them. 
B. Jonson, Sejanus, ill. 1. 
3. To see distinctly; separate mentally from 
the general mass of objects occupying the field 
of vision ; perceive by the eye ; descry. 
I discerned among the youths a young man void of un- 
derstanding. Prov. vtl. 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 object* bee. 
Yet she discernes them by her proper light. 
Sir J. Davits, Nosce Teipsnm. 
Bellonius reports that the dorcs 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 di- 
cerned. Sandys, Travailes, p. 25. 
It being dark, they could not see the make of our Ship, 
nor very well discern what we were. 
Damjner, Voyages, I. 301. 
4. To discover by the intellect; gain know- 
ledge of; become aware of; distinguish. 
A wise mau's heart discernctk both time and judgment. 
EccL vili. 5. 
The nature of justice can be more easily ditcerned In a 
state than in one man. Bancroft, Hist. Const., I. 4. 
To discern our immortality Is necessarily connected with 
fear and trembling and repentance, In the case of every 
Christian. J. 11. Newman, Parochial Sermons, t. 17. 
Syn. 3 and 4. To perceive, recognize, mark, note, espy, 
descry. 
II. intrans. 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 ami distinguishing between the several 
ideas it has. Locke, Human Understanding, II. xL 1. 
The Philosopher whose discoveries now dazzle us could 
not once ditcern between his right hand and his left. 
Ckanniny, Perfect Life, p. 116. 
2f. To see ; penetrate by the eye. 
On the north side there was such a precipice as they 
could scarce discern to the bottom. 
Wintkrop, Mist. Mew England, II. 81. 
3f. To have judicial cognizance: with of. 
It discemeth of forces, frauds, crimes various, of stel- 
lionate, and the inchoations towards crimes capital, not 
actually perpetrated. /,w. /,/,. 
Most of the magistrates (though they discerned of the 
offence clothed with all these circumstances) would have 
been more moderate in their censure. 
Wintkrop, Hist New England, I. 380. 
discernablet (di-zer'na-bl), a. [< OF. discer- 
nable, F. discernable ; as discern + -able.] See 
discernible. 
discernancet (di-zer'nans), . [< discern + 
-ancc.] Discernment." Nares. 
discerner (di-zer'ner), n. 1. One who discerns ; 
one who observes or perceives. 
He was a great observer and discerner of men's natures 
and humours. Clarendon, Great Rebellion. 
2t. That which distinguishes or separates ; that 
which serves as a ground or means of discrimi- 
nation. 
The word of God is quick and powerful, ... a discern- 
er of the thought* and intents of the heart. II. I,. Iv. 12. 
discernible (di-zer'ni-bl), o. [= It. discerni- 
bile, discernevole. < LL. discernibilis, discernible, 
< L. discernere, discern : see discern.] Capable 
of being discerned ; perceivable ; observable ; 
distinguishable. Formerly sometimes spelled 
discernable. 
There are some Cracks ditcernable In the white Varnish. 
Conoreve, Way of the World, iii. 5. 
Too many traces of the bad habits the soldiers had con- 
tracted were discernible till the close of the war. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvli. 
= 8yTL Perceptible, perceivable, noticeable, apparent, vis- 
ible. 
discernibleness (di-zer'ni-bl-nes), n. The 
state of being discernible. Johnson. 
discernibly (di-zer'ni-bli), adv. In a manner 
to be discerned; distiuguishably ; perceptibly. 
Iliiiiniiond. 
discerning (di-zer'ning) ; p. a. [Ppr. of discern, 
v.] Having power to discern ; discriminating ; 
discession 
penetrating; acute: as, & discerning man ; & dis- 
ci ruing mind. 
This hath liwn maintained not only by warm enthusi- 
asts, but by cooler and more discerning heads. 
BI>. Attertrury. 
A glance, a touch, discovers to the wise ; 
But every man has not discerning eye*. 
Dryden, Art of Poetry, III. 801. 
True modesty is a disceminy grace, 
And only blushes in the proper place. 
Covrper, Conversation. 
discerningly (di-mVning-li), adv. With dis- 
cernment ; acutely ; with judgment ; skilfully. 
Poets, to give a loose to a warm fancy, are generally too 
apt not only to expatiate In their similes, hut introduce 
them too frequently. These two errors Ovid has most dis- 
cerningly avoid* ,1. Garth, tr. of Ovid, Pre(. 
discernment (di-z6rn'ment), n. [< F. discerne- 
iniitt = Sp. disccrnimiento = Pg. discemimento 
= It. discemimento, scernimentp; as discern + 
-meiit.] 1. The act of discerning. 
It is in the discernment of place, of time, and of person 
that the Inferior artists fall. Macaulay, Machfavelll. 
2. Acuteness of judgment ; discrimination ; a 
considerable power of perceiving differences in 
regard to matters of morals and conduct: as, 
the errors of youth often proceed from the want 
of discernment; also, the faculty of distinguish- 
ing ; the exercise of this faculty. 
The third operation of the mind is discernment, which 
expresses simply the separation of our ideas. J . D. Morell. 
= SyiL 2. Penetration, Discrimination, Discernment, judg- 
ment, intelligence, acuteness, acumen, clear-sightedness, 
sagacity, shrewdness, insight. Penetration, or insight, goes 
to the heart of a subject, reads the inmost character, etc. 
Discrimination marks the differences In what it finds. Ui*- 
cernment combines both these ideas. 
An observing glance of the most shrewd penetration shot 
from under the penthouse of his shaggy dark eyebrows. 
Scott, Kenllworth, xviL 
Of simultaneous smells the discrimination Is very vague ; 
and probably not more than three can be separately iden- 
tified. U. Spencer, Prin. of Psychol., ( 68. 
Tills ancient, singular, Isolated nation [the Chinese] has 
from the earliest time shown a most remarkable genius 
for accurate moral discernment. Faitksoftke World, p. 353. 
discerpt (di-serp'), v. t. [< L. discernere, tear 
in pieces, < dis-, asunder, -r carpere, pluck : see 
carp 1 .] 1. To tear in pieces ; rend. 
This (sedition] divides, yea, and discerps a city. 
Dr. lirHJiili. Fear of God and the King, p. 100. 
2. To separate ; disjoin. 
In this consequence of its substantiality, that It was part 
of God, discerped from him, and would be resolved again 
into him, they all, we nay, agreed. 
Warburton, Divine Legation, ill. | 4. 
discerpibility (di-ser-pi-bil'i-ti), n. [< discerpi- 
ble: see -bility.] Capability or tendency to be 
tornasunderordisunited. Wollaston. [Obsolete 
or rare.] 
By actual divisibility I understand discerpibility, gross- 
tearing or cutting one part from another. 
Dr. 11. More, Immortal, of Soul, I. II 9. 
discerpible (di-ser'pi-bl), a. [< discerp + -Me.] 
That may be torn asunder ; separable ; capable 
of being disjoined by violence. [Obsolete or 
rare.] 
A man can no more argue from the extension of sub- 
stance that it is discerpiolc than that it is penetrable ; 
there being as good capacity in extension for penetration 
as descerption. Dr. H. More, Immortal, of Soul, II. II. 12. 
discerptibility (di-serp-ti-bil'i-ti), . [< dis- 
ccrptible: see -bility.] Same as discerpibility. 
[Obsolete or rare.] 
Nor can we have any idea of matter which does not im- 
ply a natural ducrrptibility and susceptivlty of various 
shapes and modifications. 
W. WoUaston, Bellgion of Nature, v. 
discerptible (di-serp'ti-bl), a. [< L. discerptvs, 
pp. ofdiscerpere, tear in pieces (see discerp), + 
-iblc.] Same as discerpible. [Obsolete or rare.] 
According to what is here presented, what is most 
dense and least porous will be most coherent and least 
discerptible. Glanaille, Vanity of Dogmatizing, v. 
discerption (di-serp'shon), n. [< L. discerp- 
tio(n-), < discerpere. pp. discerptvs, tear in 
pieces: see dincerp.] The act of pulling to 
pieces or of separating into parts. 
Maintaining that space has no parts, because its parts 
are not separable and cannot be removed from any other 
by discerption. 
Leibnitz, Letter v. In Letters of Clarke and Leibnitz. 
discerptiye (di-serp'tiv), a. [< L. discerptus, 
pp. of discerpere, tear in pieces (see discerp), 
+ -ive.] Separating or dividing. Iforth Brit. 
Rev. 
discessiont (di-sesh'on), n. [< L. discessio(n-), 
a separation, departure, < discedere, pp. disces- 
svs, put asunder, go apart, < di*-, asunder, 
apart, + cedere, go : see cede. Ct, decede, de- 
cession.] Departure. 
