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more about distinguish
distinguish |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: distinguish v 1: mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple" [syn: {separate}, {differentiate}, {secern}, {secernate}, {severalize}, {tell}, {tell apart}] 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: {recognize}, {discern}, {pick out}, {make out}, {tell apart}] 3: be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense [syn: {mark}, {differentiate}] 4: make conspicuous [syn: {signalize}] 5: as in in botany or biology, for example [syn: {identify}, {discover}, {key}, {key out}, {describe}, {name}]
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