Secernent

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To be distinguishable or capable of being distinguished
2. to show the ability to differentiate or separate things clearly
3. characterized by the capacity to perceive distinct differences and variations in objects or concepts

Etymology: "Secernent" comes directly from Latin "secernens," the present participle of "secernere," meaning "to separate" or "to distinguish." The Latin verb is built from "se-," meaning "apart," and "cernere," meaning "to sift" or "to discern," so the English adjective carries the sense of sifting one thing away from another. That is why the modern meaning centres on noticing fine distinctions, as if picking out the differences from a mixed heap. The same Latin root "cernere" sits behind "discern" and "discrete," which is one reason the word feels so close to ideas of separating and telling apart. "Secernent" keeps the older, more literal flavour of that family, which is why it sounds more technical than its everyday cousins.

Synonyms: secreting, excreting, emitting, discharging, releasing

Antonyms: absorbing, taking in, retaining, withholding, holding