to differentiate by means of contrasting or opposing qualities
contradistinguish in American English
(ˌkɑntrədɪsˈtɪŋˌgwɪʃ)
verb transitive
to distinguish (one thing from another) by contrasting
contradistinguish in American English
(ˌkɑntrədɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ)
transitive verb
to distinguish by contrasting opposite qualities
Word origin
[1615–25; contra-1 + distinguish]This word is first recorded in the period 1615–25. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: deposit, evolution, foliation, palette, scintillation