perceive

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   become conscious of

   You finally perceived the futility of my protest.

2. 2
   verb

   to become aware of through the senses

   I could perceive the ship coming over the horizon

3. 3
   verb

   To become aware of, through the physical senses, to see; to understand.

   Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

4. 4
   verb

   To interpret something in a particular way.

   John was perceived to be a coward by his comrades

Etymology

From Middle English perceyven, borrowed from Old French percevoir, perceveir, from Latin percipiō, past participle perceptus (“take hold of, obtain, receive, observe”), from per (“by, through”) + capiō (“to take”); see capable. Compare conceive, deceive, receive.