2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Perceive  \Per*ceive"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Perceived};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Perceiving}.]  [OF.  percevoir  perceveir  L. 
  percipere  perceptum  per  (see  {Per-})  +  capere  to  take 
  receive.  See  {Capacious},  and  cf  {Perception}.] 
  1.  To  obtain  knowledge  of  through  the  senses  to  receive 
  impressions  from  by  means  of  the  bodily  organs;  to  take 
  cognizance  of  the  existence,  character,  or  identity  of  by 
  means  of  the  senses  to  see  hear,  or  feel  as  to 
  perceive  a  distant  ship;  to  perceive  a  discord.  --Reid. 
 
  2.  To  take  intellectual  cognizance  of  to  apprehend  by  the 
  mind;  to  be  convinced  of  by  direct  intuition;  to  note;  to 
  remark;  to  discern;  to  see  to  understand. 
 
  Jesus  perceived  their  wickedness.  --Matt.  xxii. 
  18. 
 
  You  may  fair  lady,  Perceive  I  speak  sincerely. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Till  we  ourselves  see  it  with  our  own  eyes,  and 
  perceive  it  by  our  own  understandings,  we  are  still 
  in  the  dark.  --Locke. 
 
  3.  To  be  affected  of  influented  by  [R.] 
 
  The  upper  regions  of  the  air  perceive  the  collection 
  of  the  matter  of  tempests  before  the  air  here  below. 
  --Bacon. 
 
  Syn:  To  discern;  distinguish;  observe;  see  feel  know 
  understand. 
 
  Usage:  To  {Perceive},  {Discern}.  To  perceive  a  thing  is  to 
  apprehend  it  as  presented  to  the  senses  or  the 
  intellect;  to  discern  is  to  mark  differences,  or  to 
  see  a  thing  as  distinguished  from  others  around  it  We 
  may  perceive  two  persons  afar  off  without  being  able 
  to  discern  whether  they  are  men  or  women.  Hence 
  discern  is  often  used  of  an  act  of  the  senses  or  the 
  mind  involving  close  discriminating,  analytical 
  attention.  We  perceive  that  which  is  clear  or  obvious; 
  we  discern  that  which  requires  much  attention  to  get 
  an  idea  of  it  ``We  perceive  light,  darkness,  colors, 
  or  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  anything  We  discern 
  characters,  motives,  the  tendency  and  consequences  of 
  actions,  etc.''  --Crabb. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  perceiving 
  n  :  becoming  aware  of  something  via  the  senses  [syn:  {sensing}, 
  {perception}] 

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