Contents
English
Alternative spellings
- diſtinguiſh (archaic)
Etymology
< Middle English distingwen < Old French distinguer < Latin distinguere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”) < di- for dis- (“apart”) + *stinguere; see sting, stigma, style. Compare extinguish.
Pronunciation
Verb
to distinguish (third-person singular simple present distinguishes, present participle distinguishing, simple past and past participle distinguished)
- To see someone or something as different from others.
- 1922 De Lacy O'Leary, Arabic Thought and Its Place in History:
- It had begun to take a leading place even in the days of the Ptolemies, and in scientific, as distinguished from purely literary work, it had assumed a position of primary importance early in the Christian era.
- 1922 De Lacy O'Leary, Arabic Thought and Its Place in History:
- To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.
- To make one's self noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.
- 1784: William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c., PREFACE
- THE favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Perſons of the firſt diſtinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ſeveral new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection; and diſtinguiſh it from others ; which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.
- 1784: William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c., PREFACE
Derived terms
See also
External links
- distinguish in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- distinguish in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
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Vancouver Sun
Val Roddick cannot distinguish charisma any more than she can tell putty from butter. This is an ex-MLA who was embarrassed by a recall petition and had the ...
