DISTINGUISHED

distinguished, grand, imposing, magisterial

(adjective) used of a person’s appearance or behavior; befitting an eminent person; “his distinguished bearing”; “the monarch’s imposing presence”; “she reigned in magisterial beauty”

distinguished

(adjective) (used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation; “our distinguished professor”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

distinguished (comparative more distinguished, superlative most distinguished)

celebrated, well-known or eminent because of past achievements; prestigious

Having a dignified appearance or demeanor

(mathematics) Specified, noted.

Synonyms

• (celebrated): eminent, exceptional, remarkable; see also famous or notable

• (dignified appearance): grand, imposing

• (specified)

Antonyms

• mediocre

Verb

distinguished

simple past tense and past participle of distinguish

Source: Wiktionary


Dis*tin"guished, a.

1. Marked; special. The most distinguished politeness. Mad. D' Arblay.

2. Separated from others by distinct difference; having, or indicating, superiority; eminent or known; illustrious; -- applied to persons and deeds.

Syn.

– Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious; extraordinary; prominent.

– Distinguished, Eminent, Conspicuous, Celebrated, Illustrious. A man is eminent, when he stands high as compared with those around him; conspicuous, when he is so elevated as to be seen and observed; distinguished, when he has something which makes him stand apart from others in the public view; celebrated, when he is widely spoken of with honor and respect; illustrious, when a splendor is thrown around him which confers the highest dignity.

DISTINGUISH

Dis*tin"guish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.] Etym: [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf. Extinguish.]

1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic. Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. Dryden. Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. Nares.

2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low. Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. T. Burnet.

3. 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. We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. Watts. Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. Shak.

4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ. Who distinguisheth thee 1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).

5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for."To distinguish themselves by means never tried before." Johnson.

Syn.

– To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.

Dis*tin"guish, v. i.

1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.

2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible. [R.] The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. Jer. Taylor.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

10 February 2025

PROSCENIUM

(noun) the part of a modern theater stage between the curtain and the orchestra (i.e., in front of the curtain)


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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