Distinguish \Dis*tin"guish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.]

[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. [1913 Webster]

Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. --Nares. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. --T. Burnet. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. --Watts. [1913 Webster]

Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ. [1913 Webster]

Who distinguisheth thee? --1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version). [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Distinguished \Dis*tin"guished\, a.

1. Marked; special. [1913 Webster]

The most distinguished politeness. --Mad. D' Arblay. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

195 Moby Thesaurus words for "distinguished": a cut above, above, absolute, acclaimed, ahead, appropriate, aristocratic, ascendant, assorted, at odds, at variance, august, better, capping, celebrated, certain, characteristic, chosen, concrete, conspicuous, contrary, contrasted, contrasting, courtly, crowned with laurel, defined, definite, departing, detailed, determinate, deviating, deviative, different, differentiated, differing, dignified, disaccordant, disagreeing, discordant, discrepant, discrete, discriminated, disjoined, disparate, dissimilar, dissonant, distinct, distinctive, distingue, divergent, diverging, divers, diverse, diversified, eclipsing, elevated, eminent, esoteric, especial, esteemed, estimable, exalted, exceeding, excellent, excelling, exceptional, express, extraordinary, fabled, famed, famous, far-famed, far-heard, finer, fixed, glorious, godlike, grand, great, greater, heroic, heterogeneous, high, higher, honorable, honored, idiocratic, idiosyncratic, illustrious, imposing, in ascendancy, in character, in disagreement, in the ascendant, inaccordant, incompatible, incongruous, inconsistent, inconsonant, individual, inharmonious, inner, intimate, intrinsic, irreconcilable, lauded, laureate, legendary, lofty, magnanimous, magnificent, majestic, major, many, marked, memorable, minute, motley, much acclaimed, multifarious, mythical, noble, notable, noted, noteworthy, notorious, of choice, of mark, of note, one up on, outstanding, over, particular, peculiar, personal, poles apart, poles asunder, popular, precise, prestigious, private, prominent, proper, quintessential, rare, regal, remarkable, rememberable, renowned, reputable, respected, respective, rivaling, royal, salient, separate, separated, several, signal, single, singular, soaring, solipsistic, special, specific, stately, striking, sublime, super, superb, superior, surpassing, talked-about, talked-of, telling, topping, towering, transcendent, transcendental, transcending, true to form, unconformable, unequal, unforgettable, unique, unlike, upper, variant, varied, variegated, various, varying, well-known, widely apart, worlds apart

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

distinguished adj
1: (used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation; "our distinguished professor"; "an eminent scholar"; "a great statesman" [syn: eminent, great]
2: 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" [syn: imposing, magisterial]
3: set apart from other such things

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Distinguish \Dis*tin"guish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.]

[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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Distinguished \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)