perceive

Etymology

From Middle English perceiven, 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.

verb

1. (transitive) To become aware of, through the physical senses, to see; to understand.
   Numerous experimental tests and other observations have been offered in favor of animal mind reading, and although many scientists are skeptical, others assert that humans are not the only species capable of representing what others do and don’t perceive and know. 2012 March-April, Colin Allen, “Do I See What You See?”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 2012-04-26, page 168
2. To interpret something in a particular way
   John was perceived to be a coward by his comrades