# distinguish

Pronunciation: say "di-STING-gwish" /dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/

## Verb

1. To recognize someone or something as different from others by the features that set it apart.
   - Simple: To tell that one person or thing is different from others by noticing what makes it special.
   - _Trained tasters can distinguish dozens of subtle flavors in a single wine._
   - _The software distinguishes spam messages from legitimate email automatically._
2. To make out someone or something clearly or distinctly, by sight or another sense.
   - Simple: To see something clearly enough to know what it is.
   - _In the dim light she could just distinguish the outline of the mountains._
   - _Listeners could distinguish each instrument clearly in the well-mixed recording._
3. To set someone apart as better than or different from others through notable achievements.
   - Simple: To make yourself stand out from others by doing something very well.
   - _She hoped to distinguish herself in the design competition._
   - _His early novels distinguished him as a major literary voice._
4. To confer an honor or mark of distinction upon someone.
   - Simple: To honor someone with a special title, prize, or award.
   - _The society chose to distinguish her with lifetime membership._
   - _The crown distinguished several officers for their valor in battle._

## Verb

5. To cause one thing to differ from another; to render distinct. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To make one thing different from another.

## Origin

This word comes from Latin 'distinguere' (to separate, divide, or mark off), built from 'dis-' (apart) plus 'stinguere'. It passed through Old French 'distinguer' and Middle English 'distingwen' into English, and is related to 'extinguish'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/distinguish (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).