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Added 8 October 2026

perceive

/pəˈsiːv/ verb

In Latin: sāgiō, video, dispicio Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about perceive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To become aware of through the senses.
I could perceive the ship coming over the horizon
Become conscious of.
She finally perceived the futility of her protest

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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