perceive

verb

1. (transitive)To become aware of, through the physical senses, to see; to understand.

   “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.”

   “Morton was in fearful time pressure and at first did not realize he was mated. He snatched up his King and swung it around wildly, finally perceiving that there was no square for the critter,”

   “Then our first effort must be to identify the actual words. Only after recognizing them individually can we begin to try to understand them, to struggle with perceiving what they mean.”

   “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.”

2. To interpret something in a particular way.

   “John was perceived to be a coward by his comrades”