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 verb 1 : 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