distinguishing
UK: dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ | US: dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ
adj. serving to identify or differentiate something clearly
v. (present participle of distinguish) recognizing or treating as distinct
distinguishing = dis<apart> + stingu<mark> + ish<verb suffix> + ing<participle suffix>
- dis-: Latin prefix meaning "apart" or "away," indicating separation or negation.
- stingu-: Derived from Latin stinguere (to quench, mark), later influenced by distinguere (to separate by marking).
- -ish: Verb-forming suffix, often indicating action or process.
- -ing: Present participle suffix, turning the verb into an adjective or noun.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin distinguere, combining dis- (apart) and stinguere (to mark). Originally, it referred to physically marking differences (e.g., separating coins by stamps). Over time, it evolved metaphorically to mean perceiving subtle distinctions. The suffix -ish and -ing were added in Middle English to form the verb and its participle.
The distinguishing feature of the species is its bright blue tail.
She has a talent for distinguishing subtle flavors in wine.
The medal bears a distinguishing emblem of the royal family.
His accent is the key to distinguishing his regional origin.
The software helps in distinguishing spam from legitimate emails.