Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - discriminate

 verb  (-nated; -nating)  Etymology: Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare, from discrimin-, discrimen distinction, from discernere to distinguish between — more at discern  Date: 1628  transitive verb  1.  a. to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of  b. distinguish, differentiate ~ hundreds of colors  2. to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences; especially to distinguish from another like object  intransitive verb  1.  a. to make a distinction ~ among historical sources  b. to use good judgment  2. to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit ~ in favor of your friends ~ against a certain nationality