1. to perceive or discern; to distinguish or recognize
Usage: archaic or literary
2. to judge or decide; to decree or determine
Usage: archaic or legal

Examples

• The scholar decerns the subtle differences between the two manuscripts.
• She decerns truth from falsehood with remarkable clarity.
• The court decerns the matter in favor of the plaintiff.
• He could barely decern the distant figure through the fog.
• The judge decerns the proper course of action based on precedent.