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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Decern, v. Also: decerne, des(c)ern. [ME. decerne (1460), OF. decerner, L. dēcernere. Cf. Discern v.]

1. tr. To decide, determine, settle (a matter in doubt). Also with inf. c1420 Wynt. viii. 110.
Be the text thai decerne all thai casis Ib. ix. Prol. 23.
Casuale thingis, … As I decerne can worth memore 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 31.
A marche [stane] … Of twa feildis, forto decern tharby The ald debait of pley or contrauersy 1533 Bell. Livy I. 154/22.
Thai tuke audacite to decerne the chance of batall be the swerde 1535 Stewart 16539.
This ilk Donald … Decernit hes thairfoir richt suddantlie To gif battell 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 145.
The counsell … did recommend to the master of kirkwork to deserne the boundis particularly

2. To decide formally or judicially; to decree by a judgement or verdict.Construed with simple object, with that or infin. clause, with noun or adj. complement, with gif, quhethir, etc.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 3751.
I trow that Ambros Sall newyre decerne bot that is rycht 1456 Hay I. 153/4.
A prince hafand power … to juge, decerne, and command weris 1503 Newbattle Coll. (Reg. H.).
To heir thame be decernit and adiugeit be the lordis of … counsale c1590 Fowler II. 31/18.
The dome is decernit, the sentence is pronuncit 1622-6 Bisset II. 221/26.
Næ pryses to be decerned withtout the ordoure following(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 937.
He … gert thame decerne, at the crown … Till the Ballyoll suld fall off law 1515 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 155.
The president … fyndis, decernis, and deliueris that Hanckyne Thomesoun hes tynt and brokyn his fredome 1540 Edinb. Chart. 212.
The Lordis … of Sessioun … decretis, deliueris, and decernis that the arreist [etc.] 1565 Bamff Chart. 95.
We … decernis, delyveris, … and for finell sentence arbitrall furthgiffis that [etc.] 1582 St. A. Baxter Bks. 29.
It is decernit be deken and counsall that quha sendis braid throcht the toun to pay x s. 1588 King Cat. 50.
He hes decernit that this Kirk suld be foundit vpon ane suir rock 1613 Misc. Spald. C. V. 217.
It is decernit that all men that baid avay fra the stain is decernit to pey xx sh. 1641 Peebles B. Rec. 108.
Our said Soverane Lord … decernis and ordaines that this present ratificatioun … salbe as valid [etc.] 1677 Stitchill Baron Ct. 83.
The judge … inacts and decernes … that every persons grasse [etc.](3) 1456 Hay I. 158/21.
Quhen were is decernit and jugit rychtwis betuix twa princis 1478 Acta Conc. 4/2.
The lordis decernis the said Walter quite of the clame … of the saidis Neile and master James 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 244/2.
We … cassis, adnullis, decernis and declaris the sammyn of nane avail 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 226.
To heir the saidis altarages descernit vacand in the patrones handis 1588 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 119.
Dauid Lyll and James Robesoun … ar decernit in amerchiament of court … , and dwme gevin heirupoun 1633 Kirkcaldy Presb. 68.
They were decernit contumaces in not obeying the Presbyteries decreit(4) 1502 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 642.
We … decernis hir to succed thairto withoutin interrupcioun 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 173.
That thai sould be decernit to decyst & cesse tharfra 1531 Bell. Boece II. 375.
The Paip … decernit the Scottis to have just action of battal … aganis King Edward 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 224.
Euirilk ane of thame to be decernit be decreit of court to incure the panes contenit in the saidis burro lawis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 239.
Thair movable guidis [were] decernit to be escheit … for thair contemptioun 1596 St. A. Kirk S. 820.
Thomas Christie is decernit to mak publict humiliatione upon the penitent stull for. blasphemy 1607 Melrose R. Rec. I. 36.
The judge descerns and ordanis the officer to chairge four to pas to the said rigis 1639 Misc. Spald. C. V. 227.
The hail cotters and girsmen of al the forsaidis lands arr decernit to meit at the pairt appoynt 1670 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 260.
The Lords … decernes and ordaines him to crave pardon at the barr of the said provest 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 131.
The heritors of the cruives … are decerned to fish regularly in tyme comeing(5) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 61.
The law couth nocht decerne … quhilk of thaim had maist richt to the crown Ib. II. 142.
Ane convention … to decerne gif the imageris of Sanctis suld be honorit in kirkis or not 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 221.
To decern and declair gif the office of thesaurary aucht of dewite to haif ane burgesschip yeirlie or nocht 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 121.
That the Judge … decerne, quhether that quhilk was admitted to probation, is sufficientlie proven, or not proven

3. intr. To make or give a decision or decree. c1420 Wynt. vi. 350.
The statis off Frawns … prayid him … To decerne for thare governale 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 213.
The saydis assysowris may … decern, end, and conclud apone the … boundis and devisis of the saidis landis 1532 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 23.
Thar commissionaris be send sufficientlie auctorizat to decerne … apoun all sic contrauersiis 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 105.
Ȝit wald thay nocht be sa bald as to decerne upon the question 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Assisa.
All the assisors … suld sweare an solemne aith to judge and decerne richtly 1622-6 Bisset I. 84/11.
The quhilkis [lawis] as they ar mair difficill to be decernit on, … requyre largare tyme to thair dew correctioun c1650 Spalding I. 5.
[A commission] to sit, cognoss and decerne vpone four capitall poyntis allanerlie

4. To distinguish or discern. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 15/21.
Thocht the personnis beand in hell may haue detestacioun of thar synnis, thai may nocht haue this manere of detestacioun now decernit 1513 Doug. i. xi. 102.
The dowbill vrsys weil couth he decern Ib. x. vii. 76.
Ȝewar sa lyke in form … Nane mycht decern betwix ȝou 1535 Stewart 28925.
Tha fand thre bodeis … That no man culd … Ane by ane vther in the tyme decerne 15.. Clar. ii. 901.
His weid … with gold depaintit full bricht, Out throw the greine gudlie to decerne a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv. 1.
Quha dewlie wald decerne The nature of gud wemen (etc.)