distinctive English · revision 10560

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=early 15th century|origins=fro distinctif|origins=la-med distinctivus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈstɪŋk.tɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|distinctif]] and directly from Medieval Latin distīnctīvus,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Latin distīnct-, the past participle stem of distinguere, to separate, mark off (see [[distinguish]] and [[distinct]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Serving to mark a difference or peculiarity: the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1583 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Markedly individual or characteristic is from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) Having the power to discriminate is from 1646,^(OED 1989) and the noun, a distinguishing mark, from 1816.^(OED 1989) In linguistics a distinctive feature, one that can tell one phoneme from another, is from 1927.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – distinctive.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – markedly individual.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1646 – discriminating.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1927 – in linguistics.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Serving to identify or [[distinguish]]: ''a distinctive smell''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[characteristic|alt=Characteristic]] or typical.^(AHD)

+ # ''(linguistics)'' Of a feature that distinguishes one [[phoneme]] from another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[distinctively]]

+ * [[distinctiveness]]

+ * [[indistinctive]]

+ * [[nondistinctive]]

+ * [[distinctive feature]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[distinct]]

+ * [[distinction]]

+ * [[distinguish]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}