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Webster 1913 Edition

Distinguish

Dis-tin′guish

,
Verb.
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.
Shakespeare
4.
To constitute a difference; to make to differ.
Who
distinguisheth
thee?
1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).
Syn. – To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.

Dis-tin′guish

,
Verb.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Distinguish

DISTINGUISH

,
Verb.
T.
[L. Gr. The primary sense is, to prick, to pierce with a sharp point, to thrust in or on; and we retain the precise word in the verb, to stick, which see. The practice of making marks by puncturing, or sticking, gave rise to the applications of this word, as such marks were used to note and ascertain different things, to distinguish them. See Distinguish.]
1.
To ascertain and indicate difference by some external mark. The farmer distinguishes his sheep by marking their ears. The manufacturer distinguishes pieces of cloth by some mark or impression.
2.
To separate one thing from another by some mark or quality; to know or ascertain difference.
First, by sight; as, to distinguish ones own children from others by their features.
Secondly, by feeling. A blind man distinguishes an egg from an orange, but rarely distinguishes colors.
Thirdly, by smell; as, it is easy to distinguish the small of a peach from that of an apple.
Fourthly, by taste; as, to distinguish a plum from a pear.
Fifthly, by hearing; as to distinguish the sound of a drum from that of a violin.
Sixthly, by the understanding; as, to distinguish vice form virtue, truth from falsehood.
3.
To separate or divide by any mark or quality which constitutes difference. We distinguish sounds into high and low, soft and harsh, lively and grave. We distinguish causes into direct and indirect, immediate and mediate.
4.
To discern critically; to judge.
Not more can you distinguish of a man, than of his outward show.
5.
To separate from others by some mark of honor or preference. Homer and Virgil are distinguished as poets; Demosthenes and Cicero, as orators.
6.
To make eminent or known.

DISTINGUISH

,
Verb.
I.
To make a distinction; to find or show the difference. It is the province of a judge to distinguish between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.

Definition 2024

distinguish

distinguish

English

Verb

distinguish ‎(third-person singular simple present distinguishes, present participle distinguishing, simple past and past participle distinguished)

  1. 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.
    • 2012 March-April, Jeremy Bernstein, “A Palette of Particles”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 146:
      The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.
  2. To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.
  3. To make oneself 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.
  4. (transitive, obsolete) To make to differ.
    • Bible, 1 Cor. iv. 7 (Douay version)
      Who distinguisheth thee?

Usage notes

In sense “see a difference”, more casual than differentiate or the formal discriminate; more casual is “tell the difference”.

Synonyms

(see a difference): differentiate, discriminate

Derived terms

Related terms

Antonyms

  • (to see someone or something as different from others): confuse

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere ‎(“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”), from di- for dis- ‎(“apart”) + stinguere. Compare extinguish.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: dĭs-tĭngʹgwĭsh, IPA(key): /dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃ/
  • Rhymes: -ɪŋɡwɪʃ
  • Hyphenation: dis‧tin‧guish

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