Discriminate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discriminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Discriminating.]
To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish. Cowper. To discriminate the goats from the sheep. Barrow.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Discriminate, a.
Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens. Bacon.
Discriminate, v. i.
1. To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.
2. (a) To treat unequally. (b) (Railroads) To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for discriminate; he lists it under abstract, contrast, discern.
Where he writes about it:
In mental processes we discriminate between objects by distinguishing their differences; we separate some one element from all that does not necessarily belong to it, abstract it, and view it alone. — from abstract
We distinguish objects when we note a difference that may fall short of contrast; we discriminate them when we classify or place them according to their differences. — from contrast
What we discern we see apart from all other objects; what we discriminate we judge apart; what we distinguish we mark apart, or recognize by some special mark or manifest difference. — from discern
We discriminate by real differences; we distinguish by outward signs; an officer is readily distinguished from a common soldier by his uniform. — from discern