▪ I. cern, v.1
(sɜːn)
[ad. L. cern-ĕre ‘to separate, to decide’, in judicial language ‘to resolve to enter upon an inheritance’, ‘to make known this determination’, ‘to enter upon an inheritance’ (Lewis and Short).]
Used in translation of Roman law-books for: To declare acceptance of an inheritance. Hence ˈcerning vbl. n.
| 1880 Muirhead Gaius ii. §166 If the individual so instituted desire to be heir, he must cern within the time for cretion... I enter upon and cern to his inheritance. ― Ulpian xxii. §25 A stranger heir, if he be instituted with cretion, becomes heir by cerning. |
So ˈcerniture, formal declaration of the acceptance of an inheritance. [Not formed on L. analogies: the L. is crētio.]
| 1880 Muirhead Ulpian xxii. §28 To cern is to recite the words of cerniture in this way. ― Gaius ii. §482 Cerniture in compliance with the cretion-clause. |
▪ II. † cern, v.2 Obs. rare—1.
Short for concern.
| 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. v. i. 77 What cernes it you, if I weare Pearle and gold. |