An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

To make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit (Dictionary.com).

From L. discriminatus, p.p. of discriminare "to divide, separate," from discrimen "a space between, division, separation, difference," from discernere "to separate, divide; distinguish, perceive," from → dis- "off, away" + cernere "distinguish, separate, sift;" ultimately from PIE root *krei- "to sieve," → critique.

Vâkarbidan, from prefix vâ-, → dis-, + karb-, related to stem qarb- in qarbâl, qalbur, gerbâl "sieve," probably related to PIE root *krei- "to sieve," as above.