distinguish
/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
verb
Origin
Latin
distinguere — to separate, to divide, to set apart
Overview
Meaning Now
- To perceive or point out the difference between two or more things.
- To succeed in understanding, seeing, or hearing something.
- To make someone or something prominent or notable.
Literal older meaning
to prick apart
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
distinguisher
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The verb descends from the Latin 'distinguere', which evolved from 'stinguere' (to prick/quench). In classical Latin, it held the nuance of marking items to distinguish them, similar to 'extinguish' (literally 'to put out a light' or 'to prick out').
Evolution
- Latin
distinguere
“to separate, distinguish”
Formed from dis- (apart) + stinguere (to prick, quench).
- Middle French
distinguer
“to distinguish”
- Middle English
distinguishen
“to distinguish”
Loanword from French.
Connections
Word parts
dis-
prefix
apart, asunder
stinguere
root
to prick, to pierce
Related across languages
French
distinguer
to distinguish
Spanish
distinguir
to distinguish
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.