Main Entry:

dis·tin·guish

Pronunciation:

\di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

alteration of Middle English distinguen, from Anglo-French distinguer, from Latin distinguere, literally, to separate by pricking, from dis- + -stinguere (akin to Latin instigare to urge on) — more at stick

Date:

15th century

transitive verb1: to perceive a difference in : mentally separate <so alike they could not be distinguished>2 a: to mark as separate or different <a policy that distinguishes him from other candidates> b: to separate into kinds, classes, or categories <distinguish words by their part of speech> c: to give prominence or distinction to <distinguished themselves in music> d: characterize <recipes distinguished by simplicity>3 a: discern <distinguished a light in the distance> b: to single out : take special notice ofintransitive verb: to perceive a difference <distinguish between right and wrong>

— dis·tin·guish·abil·i·ty \-ˌstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— dis·tin·guish·able \-ˈstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-bəl\ adjective

— dis·tin·guish·ably \-blē\ adverb