distinguish

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb mark as different
  2. verb detect with the senses
  3. verb be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense

Etymology

From Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”), from di-, dis- (“apart”) + stinguere, related to English stink. Compare extinguish.

In classic literature

Synonyms

separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart

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