Discernibly

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /dɪˈsɜː(ɹ)nɪbli/

Definitions

1. In a way that is easily noticeable or recognizable
2. In a manner that allows for the differentiation of qualities or characteristics
3. In such a manner that something can be detected or perceived with clarity

Etymology: Discernibly is simply discernible with the adverbial suffix "-ly" attached, so its history is really the history of that suffix. The ending traces back to an Old English element "-līċe", which in turn descends from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "body" or "form," making the suffix a faded noun from ancient times. Over the centuries the "-līċe" ending gradually softened into the "-ly" we use today, and it became one of the most productive ways in English to turn an adjective into an adverb describing manner. The base, "discernible," comes from "discern," a verb that means to perceive or distinguish something clearly. It is built on a Latin-derived root meaning to separate or sift apart, the same idea that gives us "discrete" and "discriminate." So the word's core notion is one of separating a thing out from its surroundings until it can be seen as distinct.

Synonyms: noticeably, perceptibly, recognizably, distinctly, clearly

Antonyms: indiscernibly, imperceptibly, invisibly, obscurely, vaguely