different between acquirement vs distinction

English

Etymology

From acquire +? -ment.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??kwa??(?)m?nt/

Noun

acquirement (countable and uncountable, plural acquirements)

1. (now rare, chiefly in the plural) Something that has been acquired; an attainment or accomplishment. [from 17th c.]
   • 1630, John Hayward, The Life, and Riagne of King Edward the Sixt, London: John Partridge, p. 4,^[1]

     […] his acquirements by industrie were […] enriched and enlarged by many excellent endowments of nature.

   • 1748, Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, London: for the author, Volume 1, Letter 27, p. 177,^[2]

     If she can think, that the part she has had in your education, and your own admirable talents and acquirements, are to be thrown away upon such a worthless creature as Solmes, I could heartily quarrel with her.

   • 1838, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, London: Richard Bentley, Volume 1, Chapter 18, p. 305,^[3]

     […] there was a degree of deference in his deportment toward that young gentleman which seemed to indicate that he felt himself conscious of a slight inferiority in point of genius and professional acquirements.

2. The act or fact of acquiring something; acquisition. [from 17th c.]

   • […] rules for the acquirement of a taste […]

   • 1952, Annual report of the Chief of Engineers U.S. Army

     At best, a considerable time elapses between authorization and land acquirement, during which land values may vary impredictably.

Synonyms

• (act of acquiring, or that which is acquired): acquisition

English

Etymology

From Middle English distinccioun, from Old French distinction (attested 12th century), from the Latin accusative distinctionem, action noun of distinguo (“I distinguish”). Used in English from the late 14th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??st??k??n/

Noun

distinction (countable and uncountable, plural distinctions)

1. That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination.
2. The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination.
3. Specifically, a feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished.
   • 2013, Daniel Taylor, Steven Gerrard goal against Poland ensures England will go to World Cup (in The Guardian, 15 October 2013)[2]

     Leighton Baines, playing with distinction again, sent over a left-wing cross with pace and accuracy. Welbeck, prominently involved all night, could not reach it but Rooney was directly behind him, flashing his header past Szczesny.

Antonyms

• (that which distinguishes): confusion

Derived terms

• contradistinction
• distinction without a difference

Related terms

• distinct
• distinguish
• distinguished
• distinguishable
• distinguishness

Translations

French

Etymology

From Old French distinction (attested in the 12th century), from borrowed from the Latin accusative distinctionem, the action noun of distinguere (“distinguish”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dis.t??k.sj??/
• Rhymes: -??
• Homophone: distinctions

Noun

distinction f (plural distinctions)

1. distinction (difference, honour)

Related terms

• distinct
• distinguer

Further reading

• “distinction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).