discriminate

Etymology

From Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare (“to divide, separate, distinguish”), from discrimen (“a space between, division, separation, distinction”), from discerno (“to divide, separate, distinguish, discern”); see discern, discreet, discrete. Compare crime.

verb

1. (intransitive) To make distinctions.
   Since he was color blind he was unable to discriminate between the blue and green bottles.
2. To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
   Low self-esteem can affect both rich and poor people: it doesn't discriminate.
   1. (intransitive, construed with against) To make decisions based on prejudice.
      The law prohibits discriminating against people based on their skin color.
3. (transitive) To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
   To discriminate the goats from the sheep. 1670-7, Isaac Barrow, “Sermon XX: Against rash Censuring and Judging”, in The Theological Works, volume 1, published 1818, page 448

adj

1. Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.