decerns

Verb

decern (third-person singular simple present decerns, present participle decerning, simple past and past participle decerned)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To decide or determine (a matter disputed or doubtful), with simple object, with infinitive or object clause, or intransitive.
2. (intransitive, sometimes, transitive, Scots law) To decree by judicial sentence that something be done.
3. (intransitive, sometimes, transitive, Scots law) To decree a person etc. to be or to do something by judicial sentence. (in the phrase “to decern in”, obsolete) To mulct in by decree of court.
   • He purſued Andrew Houſtoun upon his promiſe, to give him the like Sallary for the next year, and in abſence obtained him to be holden as confeſt and Decerned.1668 July 3rd, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), pages 547–548
4. (obsolete, transitive) To discern; to distinguish or separate by differences (things that differ, or one thing from another).
   1. (intransitive, obsolete, transitive) To distinguish; to discriminate between.
5. To see distinctly (with the eyes or the mind); distinguish (an object or fact); discern.