| 释义 |
distinguish, v.|dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ|
[f. F. distinguer or L. distinguĕre (see distingue), with the ending -ish, etymologically appropriate to representatives of F. verbs in -ir, -iss-ant. Cf. extinguish.]
I. Transitive senses.
†1. To divide into parts or portions separate in space or time. Obs.
1609Bible (Douay) Exod. xxxvi. 35 A veile of hiacinth..with embrodered worke, varied and distinguished. 1610Histrio-m. i. 200 The face of heaven..is distinguisht into Regions..fil'd with sundry sorts of starres. 1618Bolton Florus i. ii. 8 Hee..distinguisht the yeere into twelve Months. 1650Fuller Pisgah ii. vi. 149 In the third day..this lower globe was distinguished into earth and water. 1695Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth i. (1723) 6 The Stone..was distinguished into Strata or Layers. 1709–29V. Mandey Syst. Math., Geogr. 540 Geography is a Doctrine shewing the Reason of Distinguishing, and Measuring the Earth.
†b. To divide or separate (from something else, or from each other). Obs.
1648Gage West Ind. xiii. 69 We cannot certainly avow this America to be continent, nor certainly affirme it to be an Island, distinguished from the old world. 1658A. Fox Wurtz' Surg. ii. xi. 89 The Midriffe, which distinguisheth the Lungs from the Breast. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 194 No Fences parted Fields, nor Marks nor Bounds Distinguish'd Acres of litigious Grounds.
†c. To divide by points; to punctuate. Obs.
1657J. Smith Myst. Rhet. 268 The Points or Notes used by the Learned in distinguishing writing..are not the least part of Orthography. 1699Bentley Phal. 266 Thus the words are to be pointed, which have hitherto been falsly distinguish'd.
2. To divide into classes or species; to class, classify.
1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 186 Your schoolemen do distinguishe into workes done, and works to be done. 1614Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 698, I might distinguish this service into habituall and actuall. 1762Goldsm. Cit. W. xxv. ⁋3 The inhabitants were..distinguished into artisans and soldiers. 1774― Nat. Hist. (1862) I. iv. iii. 423 Mr. Buffon distinguishes this species into two kinds. 1831R. Knox Cloquet's Anat. 690 The branches which the radial artery gives to the forearm are distinguished into anterior, posterior, external, and internal.
3. To mark as different or distinct; to separate (things, or one thing from another) by distinctive marks; to indicate the difference of or between; to make or constitute a difference in, to differentiate.
1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 236 Every several Epistle is distinguished with this mark (*). 1611Bible Transl. Pref. 1 By the first [Ciuilitie] we are distinguished from bruit-beasts led by sensualitie. 1638Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 228 To tincture their nailes and faces with vermillion, serving..to distinguish them from the vulgar sort. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 64 The deaths of his two rivals were distinguished only by the difference of their characters. 1876J. Parker Paracl. i. xvi. 250 The ‘manifestation of the Spirit’..distinguishes human life from all other creaturedom below it.
b. To mark, as a distinctive mark or character does; to be a characteristic of; to characterize.
1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa i. 3 Mount Atlas..beginneth westward at that place, where it distinguisheth the Ocean by the name of Atlanticus. 1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 206 Square stones..set up-an-end, to distinguish the Graves of private Persons. 1780Harris Philol. Enq. Wks. (1841) 456 Different portions of this age [the dark age] have been distinguished by different descriptions; such as Sæculum Monotheleticum, Sæculum Eiconoclasticum, &c. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 321 He..was distinguished by many both of the good and of the bad qualities which belong to aristocrats.
4. To recognize as distinct or different; to separate mentally (things, or one thing from another); to perceive or note the difference between (things); to draw a distinction between.
1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iii. 192 Can true repentance stande without faythe? No. But though they can not be seuered, yet they must be distinguished. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. i. i. 53 Two goodly sonnes..the one so like the other, As could not be distinguish'd but by names. 1684R. H. School Recreat. 88 Endeavour to distinguish the Notes of a Peal of Bells, one from another while Ringing. 1713Berkeley Hylas & P. iii. Wks. 1871 I. 322, I can distinguish gold, for example, from iron. 1809W. Irving Knickerb. iii. ix. (1849) 191 It is scarcely possible to distinguish the truth from the fiction. 1887Max Müller Sc. Th. 29 That very common error that things which can be distinguished can therefore claim an independent existence.
†b. To make a distinction in or with respect to; esp., in scholastic use, to draw distinctions between various meanings of (a word or statement); hence, to do away, or out of, bring into (something) by making subtle distinctions. Obs.
1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 168 b, I deny the Major of this Arguement. In the Minor I distinguish this word Necessitie. Ibid. 186 So doe the schoolemen expound, and distinguishe it. 1643Milton Divorce ii. xi. Wks. 1738 I. 196 That Proverbial Sentence..which also the Peripatetics do rather distinguish than deny. 1689–92Locke Toleration iv. Wks. 1727 III. 465 You have distinguish'd yourself into a false Retreat. 1703De Foe Let. to How in Misc. 328 That..they be not distinguish'd out of their Reason and Religion by the Cunning and Artifice of Words. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. viii. 54 Thus by subtilty and cunning aiming to distinguish away my duty.
c. To separate as a distinct item.
1866Rogers Agric. & Prices I. xxi. 530 Items which used to be distinguished are lumped in one general sum. 1885Times (Weekly ed.) 6 Mar. 14/1 To consider whether the cost of the railway could be distinguished from the other expenditure.
5. To perceive distinctly or clearly (by sight, hearing, or other bodily sense); to ‘make out’ by looking, listening, etc.; to recognize.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 1785 No man could distinguish what he said. 1605― Lear iv. vi. 215 Euery one heares that, which can distinguish sound. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 249 We saw the form of a body covered with linnen, without being able to distinguish more. 1726Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 31 When they were near enough, I could distinguish them to be three handsome Women. 1791Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest i, He distinguished the voices of men in the room above. 1856Sir B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. I. v. 182 An eagle..can distinguish objects at a distance at which they would be to us altogether imperceptible.
6. To single out, notice specially; to pay particular attention to, honour with special attention. arch.
1607Davies 1st Let. to Earl Salisbury (1787) 228 My Lord-Deputy..did presently distinguish the business that was to be done. 1702Rowe Tamerl. Ded., I cannot help Distinguishing the last Instance very particularly. 1748Chesterfield Lett. (1792) II. cli. 35 His Polish Majesty has distinguished you. I hope you received that mark of distinction with respect and with steadiness. 1779Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 6 Apr., Do not let new friends supplant the old; they who first distinguished you have the best claim to your attention. 1848Dickens Dombey 363 If [they] would do him the honour to look at a little bit of a shrubbery..they would distinguish him very much. 1851Ruskin Stones Ven. (1874) I. Pref. ii. 12 The work of the Marchese Selvatico is..to be distinguished with respect.
7. To make prominent, conspicuous, remarkable, or eminent in some respect. (In the quots. from Dryden, involving the notion of adornment; cf. distinct a. 4.) Now usually refl. or pass.
1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 376 Nature having distinguished it with rivers, harbours and most commodious baies. 1692Dryden State Innoc. iv. i, The ruddy fruit, distinguished o'er with gold. 1700― Cymon & Iph. 96 Not more distinguished by her purple vest Than by the charming features of her face. 1741Chesterfield Lett. (1792) I. lxxiv. 205 At dinner his awkwardness distinguishes itself particularly. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. I. xiii. 268 He had distinguished himself on every frontier of the empire. 1823Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Poor Relation, A peculiar sort of sweet pudding..distinguished the days of his coming. 1881J. Russell Haigs v. 108 Robert Haig distinguished himself in the battle by taking Lord Evers a prisoner.
II. Intransitive senses.
8. To make or draw a distinction; to perceive or note the difference between things; to exercise discernment; to discriminate.
a. absol. (in quot. 1647, with clause.)
1612Bacon Ess., Studies (Arb.) 13 If his Wit be not Apt to distinguish or find differences, let him Study the Schoole⁓men. 1647J. Saltmarsh Sparkl. Glory Ep. Ded. (1847) 7 Distinguishing to ye, that their Ordination was from the Bishops, as Ministers, not as Bishops. 1825Coleridge Aids Refl. xxvi. (1836) 22 It is a dull and obtuse mind that must divide in order to distinguish; but it is a still worse, that distinguishes in order to divide. 1861Maine Anc. Law iii. (1876) 52 The propensity to distinguish characteristic of a lawyer.
b. with between: = 4. (The usual construction.)
1604Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 314 Since I could distinguish betwixt a Benefit, and an Iniurie. 1736Butler Anal. ii. vii. Wks. 1874 I. 261 A capacity of distinguishing between truth and falsehood. 1879G. C. Harlan Eyesight v. 64 A locomotive engineer who cannot distinguish between red and green, does not know the difference between danger and safety.
†c. to distinguish of: to make distinctions with regard to (something), esp. in scholastic use (= 4 b); to perceive or note the difference between (things) = 4, 8 b; to judge of, discriminate between. to distinguish upon: to make (scholastic or subtle) distinctions with regard to. Obs.
a1592H. Smith Wks. (1866–7) I. 97 To defend usury, they distinguish upon it, as they distinguish of lying. As they say, there is a pernicious lie, and an officious lie, and a merry lie, and a godly lie; so [etc.]. 1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, ii. i. 129 Sight may distinguish of Colours: But suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible. 1646H. Lawrence Comm. Angells 177 They have a certaine taste..by which they can distinguish of food. 1650Fuller Pisgah i. vi. 14 The term navigable must be distinguished on. 1703Rules of Civility 124 Able to judge and distinguish of Stiles.
†9. intr. (for refl.) To become distinguished or differentiated. Obs. rare.
1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. 199 (L.) The little embryo..first distinguishes into a little knot, and that in time will be the heart, and then into a bigger bundle. |