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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [distinguish]
DISTINGUISH, v.t. [L. Gr. The primary sense is, to prick, to pierce with a sharp point, to thrust in or on; and we retain the precise word in the verb, to stick, which see. The practice of making marks by puncturing, or sticking, gave rise to the applications of this word, as such marks were used to note and ascertain different things, to distinguish them. See Distinguish.] 1. To ascertain and indicate difference by some external mark. The farmer distinguishes his sheep by marking their ears. The manufacturer distinguishes pieces of cloth by some mark or impression.2. To separate one thing from another by some mark or quality; to know or ascertain difference.First, by sight; as, to distinguish ones own children from others by their features.Secondly, by feeling. A blind man distinguishes an egg from an orange, but rarely distinguishes colors.Thirdly, by smell; as, it is easy to distinguish the small of a peach from that of an apple.Fourthly, by taste; as, to distinguish a plum from a pear.Fifthly, by hearing; as to distinguish the sound of a drum from that of a violin.Sixthly, by the understanding; as, to distinguish vice form virtue, truth from falsehood.3. To separate or divide by any mark or quality which constitutes difference. We distinguish sounds into high and low, soft and harsh, lively and grave. We distinguish causes into direct and indirect, immediate and mediate.4. To discern critically; to judge.Not more can you distinguish of a man, than of his outward show.5. To separate from others by some mark of honor or preference. Homer and Virgil are distinguished as poets; Demosthenes and Cicero, as orators.6. To make eminent or known.DISTINGUISH, v.i. To make a distinction; to find or show the difference. It is the province of a judge to distinguish between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [distinguish]
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DISTINGUISH, v.t. [L. Gr. The primary sense is, to prick, to pierce with a sharp point, to thrust in or on; and we retain the precise word in the verb, to stick, which see. The practice of making marks by puncturing, or sticking, gave rise to the applications of this word, as such marks were used to note and ascertain different things, to distinguish them. See Distinguish.] 1. To ascertain and indicate difference by some external mark. The farmer distinguishes his sheep by marking their ears. The manufacturer distinguishes pieces of cloth by some mark or impression.2. To separate one thing from another by some mark or quality; to know or ascertain difference.First, by sight; as, to distinguish ones own children from others by their features.Secondly, by feeling. A blind man distinguishes an egg from an orange, but rarely distinguishes colors.Thirdly, by smell; as, it is easy to distinguish the small of a peach from that of an apple.Fourthly, by taste; as, to distinguish a plum from a pear.Fifthly, by hearing; as to distinguish the sound of a drum from that of a violin.Sixthly, by the understanding; as, to distinguish vice form virtue, truth from falsehood.3. To separate or divide by any mark or quality which constitutes difference. We distinguish sounds into high and low, soft and harsh, lively and grave. We distinguish causes into direct and indirect, immediate and mediate.4. To discern critically; to judge.Not more can you distinguish of a man, than of his outward show.5. To separate from others by some mark of honor or preference. Homer and Virgil are distinguished as poets; Demosthenes and Cicero, as orators.6. To make eminent or known.DISTINGUISH, v.i. To make a distinction; to find or show the difference. It is the province of a judge to distinguish between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle. |
DIS-TIN'GUISH, v.i.To make a distinction; to find or show the difference. It is the province of a judge to distinguish between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.
DIS-TIN'GUISH, v.t. [L. distinguo; dis and stingo, or stinguo, n not radical. This seems to Gr. ςιζω, ςιξω, for the second future is ςιγω and the derivatives prove the primary elements to be stg, as in ςιγευς, ςιγμα, ςικτος. Hence also L. stigo, whence instigo, to instigate. The primary sense is, to prick, to pierce with a sharp point, to thrust in or on; and we retain the precise word in the verb, to stick, which see. The practice of making marks by puncturing, or sticking, gave rise to the applications of this word, as such marks were used to note and ascertain different things, to distinguish them. See Extinguish, and Class Dg, No. 31.]- To ascertain and indicate difference by some external mark. The farmer distinguishes his sheep by marking their ears. The manufacturer distinguishes pieces of cloth by some mark or impression.
- To separate one thing from another by some mark or quality; to know or ascertain difference.
First, by sight; as, to distinguish one's own children from others by their features.
Secondly, by feeling. A blind man distinguishes an egg from an orange, but rarely distinguishes colors.
Thirdly, by smell; as, it is easy to distinguish the smell of a peach from that of an apple.
Fourthly, by taste; as, to distinguish a plum from a pear.
Fifthly, by hearing; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum from that of a violin.
Sixthly, by the understanding; as, to distinguish vice from virtue, truth from falsehood.
- To separate or divide by any mark or quality which constitutes difference. We distinguish sounds into high and low, soft and harsh, lively and grave. We distinguish causes into direct and indirect, immediate and mediate.
- To discern critically; to judge.
Nor more can you distinguish of a man, / Than of his outward show. – Shak.
- To separate from others by some mark of honor or presence. Homer and Virgil are distinguished as poets; Demosthenes and Cicero, as orators.
- To make eminent or known. – Johnson.
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Dis*tin"guish
- Not set apart from
others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by
exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.
- To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise
discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge
distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing
in principle.
- To separate by definition of terms or
logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to
distinguish sounds into high and low.
- To become distinguished or distinctive; to
make one's self or itself discernible.
- To recognize or discern by marks, signs,
or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate
(anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as,
to distinguish the sound of a drum.
- To constitute a difference; to make to
differ.
- To separate from others by a mark of
honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with
by or for.
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Distinguish DISTINGUISH, verb transitive [Latin Gr. The primary sense is, to prick, to pierce with a sharp point, to thrust in or on; and we retain the precise word in the verb, to stick, which see. The practice of making marks by puncturing, or sticking, gave rise to the applications of this word, as such marks were used to note and ascertain different things, to distinguish them. See distinguish ] 1. To ascertain and indicate difference by some external mark. The farmer distinguishes his sheep by marking their ears. The manufacturer distinguishes pieces of cloth by some mark or impression. 2. To separate one thing from another by some mark or quality; to know or ascertain difference. First, by sight; as, to distinguish ones own children from others by their features. Secondly, by feeling. A blind man distinguishes an egg from an orange, but rarely distinguishes colors. Thirdly, by smell; as, it is easy to distinguish the small of a peach from that of an apple. Fourthly, by taste; as, to distinguish a plum from a pear. Fifthly, by hearing; as to distinguish the sound of a drum from that of a violin. Sixthly, by the understanding; as, to distinguish vice form virtue, truth from falsehood. 3. To separate or divide by any mark or quality which constitutes difference. We distinguish sounds into high and low, soft and harsh, lively and grave. We distinguish causes into direct and indirect, immediate and mediate. 4. To discern critically; to judge. Not more can you distinguish of a man, than of his outward show. 5. To separate from others by some mark of honor or preference. Homer and Virgil are distinguished as poets; Demosthenes and Cicero, as orators. 6. To make eminent or known. DISTINGUISH, verb intransitive To make a distinction; to find or show the difference. It is the province of a judge to distinguish between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle. |
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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