distinguish English · revision 15327

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1561|origins=la distinguō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|distinguer]] (stem distinguiss-),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) or directly [[la|distinguō|t=to separate, mark off]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]] and -stinguere, perhaps to prick (compare [[extinguish]] and [[instinct]]);^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) de Vaan prefers a root meaning to push.^(Etymonline) The ending is due to verbs like [[admonish]] and [[astonish]] in which -ish comes from French -iss-.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It replaced Middle English [[m|enm|distinguen]] (about 1340).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To recognize as distinct, to perceive or make out: 1561 in Barnhart and the OED, the 1560s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To mark as different is from the 1570s (1576),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to divide into classes from 1581.^(OED 1989) To set apart by a mark of honour is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and the intransitive sense, to make a distinction between, from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) Distinguishable is from 1594 and distinguished from 1609, meaning famous from 1714.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1340 – distinguen.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1561 – to distinguish.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – to mark as different.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1600 – to honour.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1714 – distinguished, famous.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To recognize or show the difference between; to [[differentiate]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make out by the senses; to [[discern]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be a characteristic mark of; to set apart.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make oneself notable: ''she distinguished herself in the war''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[distinguishable]]

+ * [[distinguishably]]

+ * [[distinguishability]]

+ * [[distinguishableness]]

+ * [[distinguisher]]

+ * [[distinguishment]]

+ * [[interdistinguish]]

+ * [[redistinguish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contradistinguish]]

+ * [[distinct]]

+ * [[distinction]]

+ * [[distinctive]]

+ * [[extinguish]]

+ * [[instinct]]

+ * [[stigma]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}