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distinguished - 5 dictionary results

dis⋅tin⋅guished

  [di-sting-gwisht]
Use distinguished in a Sentence
–adjective
1. made conspicuous by excellence; noted; eminent; famous: a distinguished scholar.
2. having an air of distinction, dignity, or eminence: a distinguished old gentleman.
3. conspicuous; marked.
Origin:
1600–10; distinguish + -ed 2

Related forms:
dis⋅tin⋅guished⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. renowned, illustrious. See famous.

dis⋅tin⋅guish

  [di-sting-gwish]
–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.
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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.
dis·tin·guished   (dĭ-stĭng'gwĭsht)   
adj.  
  1. Characterized by excellence or distinction; eminent.
  2. Dignified in conduct or appearance.
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

Distinguished

Dis*tin"guished\, a. 1. Marked; special.

The most distinguished politeness. --Mad. D' Arblay.

2. Separated from others by distinct difference; having, or indicating, superiority; eminent or known; illustrious; -- applied to persons and deeds.

Syn: Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious; extraordinary; prominent. -- Distinguished, Eminent, Conspicuous, Celebrated, Illustrious. A man is eminent, when he stands high as compared with those around him; conspicuous, when he is so elevated as to be seen and observed; distinguished, when he has something which makes him stand apart from others in the public view; celebrated, when he is widely spoken of with honor and respect; illustrious, when a splendor is thrown around him which confers the highest dignity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : distinguished
Spanish: distinguido,
German: berühmt,
Japanese: 著名な
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