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distinguish

7 dictionary results for: distinguish

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·tin·guish

[di-sting-gwish] Pronunciation Key

–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 -ish², 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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·tin·guish   (dĭ-stĭng'gwĭsh) Pronunciation Key
v.   dis·tin·guished, dis·tin·guish·ing, dis·tin·guish·es

v.   tr.

To perceive as being different or distinct.
To perceive distinctly; discern: distinguished the masts of ships on the horizon.
To make noticeable or different; set apart.
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.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

distinguish
verb
1.	mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple"
2.	detect with the senses; "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph" [syn: spot]
3.	be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense; "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers"
4.	make conspicuous or noteworthy [syn: signalize]
5.	identify as in botany or biology, for example [syn: identify]

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: dis·tin·guish
Function: transitive verb
: to identify or explain differences in or from <distinguished the cases on factual grounds>

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Distinguish

Dis*tin"guish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.] [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf. Extinguish.]

1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.

Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. --Dryden.

Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. --Nares.

2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low.

Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. --T. Burnet.

3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum.

We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. --Watts.

Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. --Shak.

4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ.

Who distinguisheth thee? --1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).

5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for."To distinguish themselves by means never tried before." --Johnson.

Syn: To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Distinguish

Dis*tin"guish\, v. i. 1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.

2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible. [R.]

The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. --Jer. Taylor.

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