distinguish

• vt.区別する；区別する；卓越する、際立たせる
• vi.区別する；区別する；区別する

dis-、分ける、分散させる。-sting、刺す、印、語源的にはsting、stickと同じ。

distinguish (v.)

1560s, from Middle French distinguiss-, stem of distinguer, or directly from Latin distinguere "to separate between, keep separate, mark off, distinguish," perhaps literally "separate by pricking," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + -stinguere "to prick" (compare extinguish and Latin instinguere "to incite, impel").

Watkins says "semantic transmission obscure;" the sense might be from "pricking out" as the old way to make punctuation in parchment or some literal image, but de Vaan derives the second element from a different PIE root meaning "to push, thrust."

The meanings of ex- and restinguere 'to extinguish' and distinguere seem quite distinct, but can be understood if the root meant 'to press' or 'push': ex-stinguere 'to put a fire out', re-stinguere 'to push back, suppress', and dis-stinguere 'to push apart [thence] distinguish, mark off ...."

The suffix -ish is due to the influence of many verbs in which it is the equivalent of Old French -iss-, ultimately from Latin inchoative suffix -iscere (this is also the case in extinguish, admonish, and astonish). Related: Distinguishing. The earlier form of the verb was distinguen (mid-14c.).

1. It is common to distinguish between personal and social ethics.

個人道徳準則と社会道徳準則はしばしば一致しない。

2.It is necessary to distinguish the policies of two successive governments.

前後2期の政府の政策を明確にする必要がある。

3.There were cries,calls.He could distinguish voices.

泣き声、叫び声がある--彼は異なる声を聞くことができる。

4.At what age are children able to distinguish between right and wrong？

子供はどの年齢になったら是非を明らかにすることができますか。

5.It is not easy to distinguish cultured pearls from genuine pearls.

本物の真珠と養殖真珠を識別するのは容易ではない。