distinguer French · revision 17708

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1310, Roman de Fauvel|origins=la distinguō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dis.tɛ̃.ɡe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''distinguer'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|distinguō|t=to separate, divide; to differentiate]], formed from [[m|la|dis-]] and a verb with a nasal infix related to [[m|la|īnstīgō|t=to goad]], whose root meant “to prick”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005) The first sense was thus “to separate by marks”.^(Grand Robert 2005) Old French also had [[m|fro|distinter]] in the 13th century (in the Roman de la Rose).^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Littré 1873) Cognate with [[pro|distinguir]], [[es|distinguir]] and [[it|distinguere]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Roman de Fauvel'' (1310) uses it for recognizing someone or something by a distinctive trait.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Oresme, between 1370 and 1382, uses it with a thing as subject, for what allows something to be recognized (''ces hemisperes sont distinguez … par le elevacion des poles'').^(TLFi) From 1580 (Palissy) it meant to perceive clearly with one of the senses, and then with the mind.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In the 17th century it took the sense “to raise above the common”: Molière's ''je veux qu'on me distingue'' (1666), and of things, Bossuet (1670).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Bloch and Wartburg date the sense “to honour with a mark of distinction” to the 18th century.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Balzac uses ''être distingué par une femme'' for being chosen as a lover (1832–1834).^(BHVF) The participle ''distingué'' came to mean eminent, refined.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1310 – In the ''Roman de Fauvel''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1370–1382 – With a thing as subject, in Oresme.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – “To perceive”, in Palissy.^(TLFi)

+ * 1666 – “To single out”, in Molière's ''Misanthrope''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1670 – Of things, in Bossuet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1832 – “To take as a lover”, in Balzac.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(of a trait)'' To set apart, [[m|en|characterize]]: ''le langage distingue l'homme des animaux''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To tell apart, [[m|en|differentiate]]: ''on ne peut distinguer ces jumeaux l'un de l'autre'', ''distinguer le vrai du faux''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To make out with the senses, especially sight or hearing: ''distinguer une silhouette, un visage''.^(Larousse)^(TLFi)

+ # To single out for merit; to honour: ''je veux qu'on me distingue''.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Se distinguer'': to stand out, distinguish oneself.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[distingué]]

+ * [[distinguable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[distinctif]]

+ * [[distinction]]

+ * [[distinct]]

+ * [[instigation]]

+ * [[la|distinguō]]

+ * [[en|distinguish]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}