distinguished

1. 1
   adjective

   Widely admired and respected as a result of notable past achievements.

   The medal honors a distinguished career in public service.

   He retired as one of the firm's most distinguished engineers.

   Similareminent, illustrious, respected, esteemed, notable

   Oppositeobscure, mediocre

   Note

   Here the adjective keeps its verb in view. A distinguished mathematician is one who has distinguished herself and stood out from others through what she has done. That is why it attaches so naturally to records of work, as in a distinguished career or distinguished service. It implies honor earned over time rather than a sudden burst of fame.

2. 2
   adjective

   Having a dignified appearance or manner that commands respect.

   The actor was cast for his distinguished bearing and silver hair.

   She cut a distinguished figure as she entered the gala.

   Similardignified, stately, elegant, refined, noble

   Oppositeundignified

   Note

   Dignity of bearing, not achievement, is the point of this meaning, and it can stand apart from wealth or renown entirely: a man may be a distinguished gentleman, albeit a poor one. It is said of looks and carriage, such as silver hair, posture, or the figure someone cuts on entering a room. Context decides whether the word praises a presence or a celebrated record.

3. 3
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of distinguish.

   Critics distinguished her early work from her later style.

   The jury distinguished genuine evidence from mere rumor.

   Note

   One spelling serves both the finite past and the participle, so the sentence frame decides which it is: they distinguished rumor from fact; the twins could barely be distinguished. The reflexive is worth knowing (she distinguished herself in the role) because it underlies the "eminent" adjective. When distinguished takes an object, a from-phrase or a by-agent, it is still working as the verb.

4. 4
   adjective

   Singled out and specified as a particular element, point, or object within a mathematical or scientific structure.

   Every pointed space carries a distinguished point called the basepoint.

   The argument relies on a distinguished element of the group.

   Similardesignated, specified

   Note

   A mathematician's distinguished point carries none of the honorific sense. It has simply been chosen and fixed so the argument can refer to it. The basepoint of a pointed space and the identity element of a group are the standard cases. The word usually arrives in a setup phrase, such as "let X be a space with a distinguished point p," and the object is often named on the spot.

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