An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

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).

Etymology (EN): 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.

Etymology (PE): 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.