discernible
Meaning: Able to be perceived, recognised, or distinguished clearly; detectable through careful observation or analysis.
Discernible implies that something can be made out or distinguished, often with effort or skill. It frequently appears in negative constructions — 'no discernible difference,' 'no discernible pattern' — to indicate that careful scrutiny has failed to detect something. It is slightly more formal than 'noticeable' and implies a more active process of observation. Common collocations include 'discernible pattern,' 'discernible difference,' 'no discernible effect,' and 'clearly discernible.'
Examples
- The satellite imagery revealed no discernible change in the glacier's extent over the past twelve months. 卫星图像显示,过去十二个月中该冰川的面积没有可辨别的变化。Las imágenes por satélite no revelaron ningún cambio discernible en la extensión del glaciar a lo largo de los últimos doce meses.衛星画像では、過去12か月間に氷河の範囲に識別可能な変化は認められなかった。위성 영상에서는 지난 12개월간 빙하의 범위에 식별 가능한 변화가 나타나지 않았다.
- There was a clearly discernible pattern to the attacks, which always occurred on weekday evenings during rush hour. 袭击存在一个清晰可辨的规律:总是发生在工作日傍晚的高峰时段。Había un patrón claramente discernible en los ataques, que siempre tenían lugar los días laborables por la tarde, en hora punta.襲撃には明確に識別できるパターンがあり、常に平日の夕方のラッシュアワーに発生していた。공격에는 명확히 식별할 수 있는 패턴이 있었으며, 항상 평일 저녁 퇴근 시간대에 발생했다.
- With no discernible improvement in the patient's condition, the consultant recommended a change of treatment. 在患者状况没有可辨别的改善的情况下,顾问医生建议更换治疗方案。Sin mejora discernible en el estado del paciente, el consultor recomendó un cambio de tratamiento.患者の容態に識別できる改善が見られなかったため、上級医は治療法の変更を勧めた。환자의 상태에 식별할 수 있는 호전이 보이지 않자, 전문의는 치료법 변경을 권고했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, journalism, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin 'discernere' meaning to separate or distinguish, from 'dis-' (apart) and 'cernere' (to sift or perceive). The '-ible' suffix was added in English by the 16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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