[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

distinguish \distin"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
see also:
distinguished distinguishing extinguish 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

distinguished \distin"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
see also:
distinguished eminent conspicuous celebrated illustrious 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

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
see also:
eminent great imposing magisterial 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

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

Distinguished >> D Words
Distinguished, definition of term: Distinguished
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