v.
Pronunciation: di- ' sti ŋ -(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 in stigare 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 distinguish ed >
2 a : to mark as separate or different <a policy that distinguish es 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 < distinguish ed themselves in music> d : CHARACTERIZE <recipes distinguish ed by simplicity>
3 a : DISCERN < distinguish ed a light in the distance> b : to single out : take special notice of
intransitive verb : to perceive a difference < distinguish between right and wrong>
– dis · tin · guish · abil · i · ty \ - ˌ sti ŋ -(g)wi-sh ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– dis · tin · guish · able \ - ' sti ŋ -(g)wi-sh ə -b ə l \ adjective
– dis · tin · guish · ably \ -bl ē \ adverb