To distinguish is to see or show the difference between things, or to recognize something as special or different from others. It can apply to objects, sounds, ideas, or people.
From Latin 'distinguere' meaning 'to separate, mark off, differentiate', from 'dis-' and 'stinguere' meaning 'to prick, mark'. The idea was to mark things so they could be told apart.
Your brain is a nonstop distinguishing machine, quietly labeling 'same' and 'different' all day long. The better you can distinguish details—sounds, arguments, patterns—the sharper your thinking becomes.
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