discerningly
|dis-cern-ing-ly|
🇺🇸
/dɪˈsɜrnɪŋli/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈsɜːnɪŋli/
distinguish clearly; judge wisely
Etymology
'discerningly' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'discernere', where 'dis-' meant 'apart' and 'cernere' meant 'to sift, separate, distinguish'.
'discernere' passed into Middle English (via Latin directly or through Old French forms) as 'discernen' / 'discern' and developed the adjective 'discerning'; the adverb 'discerningly' is formed by adding the suffix '-ly' to that adjective.
Initially, the root meant 'to separate or sift' (a physical sense); over time it evolved into the sense 'to perceive or distinguish', and in modern usage the adverb means 'in a perceptive, judicious way'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
related noun: 'discernment' — the ability to judge well; this noun is a derivation within the same family as the adverb.
The related noun is 'discernment' (ability to judge well).
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Verb 1
related verb root: 'discern' — to perceive or recognize something, especially distinctions; note that this adverb is derived from forms of this verb plus -ly.
The verb root is 'discern' (to perceive or recognize differences).
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Adjective 1
adjective form related to this adverb: 'discerning' — having or showing good judgment or insight.
The adjective form is 'discerning' (showing good judgment).
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Adverb 1
in a way that shows good judgment, insight, or the ability to notice fine distinctions.
She examined the antiques discerningly before deciding which to buy.
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Last updated: 2025/10/23 22:01