Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

distinguish

 - 4 dictionary results

dis⋅tin⋅guish

  [di-sting-gwish]
Use distinguish in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to mark off as different (often fol. by from or by): He was distinguished from the other boys by his height.
2. to recognize as distinct or different; recognize the salient or individual features or characteristics of: It is hard to distinguish her from her twin sister.
3. to perceive clearly by sight or other sense; discern; recognize: He could not distinguish many of the words.
4. to set apart as different; be a distinctive characteristic of; characterize: It is his Italian accent that distinguishes him.
5. to make prominent, conspicuous, or eminent: to distinguish oneself in battle.
6. to divide into classes; classify: Let us distinguish the various types of metaphor.
7. Archaic. to single out for or honor with special attention.
–verb (used without object)
8. to indicate or show a difference (usually fol. by between).
9. to recognize or note differences; discriminate.
Origin:
1555–65; extension, by -ish 2 , of ME disting(u)en (< AF, MF distinguer) < L distinguere; see distinct

Related forms:
dis⋅tin⋅guish⋅a⋅ble, adjective
dis⋅tin⋅guish⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, dis⋅tin⋅guish⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
dis⋅tin⋅guish⋅a⋅bly, adverb
dis⋅tin⋅guish⋅er, noun
dis⋅tin⋅guish⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
2. Distinguish, differentiate, discriminate suggest an attempt to analyze characteristic features or qualities of things. To distinguish is to recognize the characteristic features belonging to a thing: to distinguish a light cruiser from a heavy cruiser. To discriminate is to perceive the particular, nice, or exact differences between things, to determine wherein these differences consist, and to estimate their significance: to discriminate prejudiced from unprejudiced testimony. To differentiate is to point out exactly and in detail the differences between (usually) two things: The symptoms of both diseases are so similar that it is hard to differentiate one from another.

Antonyms:
2. confuse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To distinguish
dis·tin·guish   (dĭ-stĭng'gwĭsh)   
v.   dis·tin·guished, dis·tin·guish·ing, dis·tin·guish·es

v.   tr.

  1. To perceive as being different or distinct.

  2. To perceive distinctly; discern: distinguished the masts of ships on the horizon.

  3. To make noticeable or different; set apart.

  4. To cause (oneself) to be eminent or recognized: They have distinguished themselves as dedicated social workers.

v.   intr.
To perceive or indicate differences; discriminate: distinguish between right and wrong.

[Alteration of obsolete distingue, from Middle English distinguen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere, to separate; see steig- in Indo-European roots.]
dis·tin'guish·a·ble adj., dis·tin'guish·a·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

distinguish 
1561, from M.Fr. distinguiss-, stem of distinguer, from L. distinguere "to separate between, separate by pricking," from dis- "apart" + -stinguere "to prick." The suffix -ish is due to the influence of many verbs in which it is the equivalent of O.Fr. -iss, ultimately from L. inchoative suffix -iscere (this is also the case in extinguish, admonish, and astonish). The pp. distinguished, with special sense of "famous, celebrated," first recorded 1714.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: dis·tin·guish
Function: transitive verb
: to identify or explain differences in or from <distinguished the cases on factual grounds>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see distinguish on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way