discrimination

Definition

Discernment, the act of discriminating, discerning, distinguishing, noting or perceiving differences between things, with the intent to understand rightly and make correct decisions.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin discrīminātiō, discrīminātiōnem, the action noun to discrīminō, discrīmināre (“distinguish”). Equivalent to discriminate + -ion. In English use from the 17th century.

Example Sentences

• "Have you felt the weight of the considerations which have been presented, in order to show the importance of discrimination on the subject of revealed truth?"
• "An earthquake here rolls harmless through the land, And Thou art good because the chimneys stand— There templed cities sink into the sea, And damp survivors, howling as they flee, Skip to the hills and hold a celebration In honor of Thy wise discrimination."
• "In place of a discrimination box a jumping apparatus was used, and apparently this required performance less foreign to the natural response repertory of the bird."

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