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Antonyms for distinguish


Grammar : Verb
Spell : dih-sting-gwish
Phonetic Transcription : dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃ



Definition of distinguish

Origin :
  • 1560s, from Middle French distinguiss-, stem of distinguer, or directly from Latin distinguere "to separate between, separate by pricking," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + -stinguere "to prick" (see extinguish, and cf. Latin instinguere "to incite, impel").
  • The suffix -ish is due to the influence of many verbs in which it is the equivalent of Old French -iss-, ultimately from Latin inchoative suffix -iscere (this is also the case in extinguish, admonish, and astonish). Related: Distinguishing. The earlier form of the verb was distinguen (mid-14c.).
  • verb tell the difference
  • verb discern, identify
  • verb make famous
Example sentences :
  • Through his glasses Kingozi could distinguish rounded foothills.
  • Extract from : « The Leopard Woman » by Stewart Edward White
  • And the word was invented to distinguish the laymen from the clergymen.
  • Extract from : « Samantha Among the Brethren, Part 7. » by Josiah Allen's Wife (Marietta Holley)
  • I now put forth my whole speed, and while thus running could distinguish no sound.
  • Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
  • Without Ithuriel's spear, how can they distinguish the good from the evil?
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • The Pigmies are so called to distinguish them from the bulkier Caucasians —who are Hogmies.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • It is so called to distinguish it from a "copy," which is made by another artist.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • It was just growing dusk, and the doctor could not distinguish her features.
  • Extract from : « Hetty's Strange History » by Anonymous
  • Betty was drunk; and she was too young to distinguish between vintages.
  • Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit
  • It had been too dark for me to distinguish the colours exactly.
  • Extract from : « My Double Life » by Sarah Bernhardt
  • The Citizen Morot could not hear the jokes nor distinguish the cause of the groaning.
  • Extract from : « The Slave Of The Lamp » by Henry Seton Merriman

Synonyms for distinguish

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019