decern, v.
(dɪˈsɜːn)
[a. F. décerne-r (1318 in Godef.), ad. L. dēcernĕre to decide, pronounce a decision, f. de- I. 2 + cernĕre to separate, distinguish, decide: see cern v. In OF. décerner was confused in form with descerner, discerner; the clear distinction between the two dates only from the 16th c.; hence, in English also, decern is found with the sense discern.]
I. To decide, determine, decree.
† 1. trans. To decide, determine (a matter disputed or doubtful). Obs. a. with simple obj.
| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. ii. 110 Be þe Text þai decerne all Tha casis. 1555 Eden Decades 80 The controuersie shulde bee decerned by the bysshope of Rome. |
b. with inf. or obj. clause.
| 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) ii. 220 a/1 Holy faders..decerned & concluded that it sholde be buryed with theyr mayster. 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 162 Whan my noble prince..had decerned to send me his oratour to France. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. I. 531 This ilk Donald..Decernit hes thairfoir richt suddantlie To gif battell. 1547 Homilies i. Charity i. (1859) 69 He shall not be deceived, but truly decern and judge. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. i. v. §2 (1622) 31 To make them decerne, there should be no God. |
c. intr.
| 1553 Kennedy Compend. Tract. in Wodr. Soc. Misc. (1844) 105 The Apostolis and Eldaris convenit to dispute and decerne upoun the questioun. |
2. trans. To decree by judicial sentence. Now a technical term of Scottish judicature; the use of the word ‘decerns’ being necessary to constitute a decree: see quot. 1774 in d. a. with simple obj.
| c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 182 She..was denounced..contumax, and a citation decerned for her appearance. 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Cerem. iii. viii. 181 But onely pronounce the sentence according to that which he who sitteth judge in the Court, hath decreed and decerned. a 1850 Rossetti Dante & Circ. i. (1874) 118 Since thou, Death, and thou only, canst decern Wealth to my life, or want, at thy free choice. |
b. that something be done.
| 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 274 The lordis of this present Parlement [1399] decerne and deme, That the dukes..schal lese..her dignite. 1515 R. Sampson in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. i. 17 A commission to some men..to decern [that] the same one exception and process..were of no strength. 1582–8 Hist. James VI (1804) 21 It was decernit that..shoe sould be transportit to the fortalice of Lochlevin, and thair decernit to remaine in captivity. |
c. a person, etc. to be or to do something. † to decern in: to mulct in by decree of court.
| 1526 Sc. Acts Jas. V (1814) 306 (Jam.) Decernit to haif incurrit the panis contenit in said actis. 1559 Diurn. Occurr. (1833) 52 The forthe of Aymouth decernit to be cassin down. 1568 Grafton Chron. Rich. II an. 23 II. 405 We..by the power, name, and authoritie to us..committed, pronounce, decerne[1494 Fabyan dyscerne] and declare, the same king Richard..to be..unworthy to the rule and governaunce. 1640–1 Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 41 Roger Gordoun..for his contumacie in not coming to the Committie..is decernit in xx merks monie of fyne. Ibid. 43 Decerns Alexander Gordoun..to content and pey to George Glendonyng..the soume of xxij lib. xiijs. iiijd. 1682 Lond. Gaz. No. 1682/1 The Lords Commissioners of Iusticiary, therefore Decerne and Adjudge the said Archibald Earl of Argile to be Execute to the Death. 1753 Stewart's Trial 283 They..decern and adjudge the said James Stewart to be carried back to the prison. 1754 Erskine Princ. Sc. Law (1809) 438 If a bastard might be decerned executor as next of kin to his mother. |
d. intr.
| 1541 Paynel Catiline xvii. 29 b, Whan they suffre, they decerne: whan they hold theyr peace, they crye aloude. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 52 Authoritie, in gouerning, iudging, and decerning. 1774 Interlocutor in A. M{supc}Kay Hist. Kilmarnock (ed. 4) 363 Therefore [the Lord Ordinary] suspends the letters simpliciter, and decerns. 1817 Blackw. Mag. I. 437/1 The court below..decerned in terms of the prayer of the complaint. 1880 Chambers' Encycl. s.v. Debts, If the sum decerned for..do not exceed, etc. |
e. transf.
| 1850 Tait's Mag. XVII. 106/1 One has said, ‘It is not this’: another avers, ‘It is not that’: one decerns it [a book] too elaborate. |
II. To discern.
† 3. trans. To distinguish or separate by their differences (things that differ, one thing from another). Obs.
| a 1535 [see decerning]. 1546 Bp. Gardiner Declar. Art. Joye 16 b, That belefe was a condicion which decerned them that shall enioye the fruite of Christes passion, and them that shall not. a 1572 Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 188 We must decerne the immaculat spous of Jesus Christ, frome the Mother of confusioun. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 99 That rule..whereby..he decerneth and chooseth good from bad. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Disc. Impresa's Wks. (1711) 228 Things which cannot be decerned from others; as fowls like to others. |
b. intr. To distinguish, discriminate between.
| a 1535 Sir T. More Wks. 528 (R.) To deserne betwene the true doctrine and the false. 1892 A. R. Watson Geo. Gilfillan iii. 38 With little skill to decern between the good and the evil in literature. |
4. To see distinctly (with the eyes or the mind); to distinguish (an object or fact); to discern.
| 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 9 Then all that we ether by sight may decerne, or by arte conceive. 1595 Blanchardine Pt. ii. Ded., You may well decerne, that my willing minde dooth bewraie my good meaning. c 1610 Sir J. Melvil Mem. (1735) 94 A Princess who could decern and reward good Service. a 1638 Mede Apostasie Wks. (1672) 54 The starres and lights therein should not easily be decerned. 1891 H. S. Constable Horses, Sport, & War 37 Differences..that cannot be decerned by the eye. |
Hence deˈcerning vbl. n., † deˈcernment.
| a 1535 Sir T. More Wks. 528 (R.) The decerning of the true woord of God..from the countrefet woorde of man. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utop. ii. (Arb.) 125 marg., The decerning of punishment putte to the discretion of the magistrates. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 142 Judge by your owne decernement, how much. a 1679 T. Goodwin Wks. III. i. 488 (R.) A yet more refined elective discretion or decernment. |