different between distinction vs gravity

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).

English

Etymology

16th century, learned borrowing from Latin gravit?s (“weight”) (compare French gravité), from gravis (“heavy”). Doublet of gravitas.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???æv?ti/
• Hyphenation: grav?i?ty

Noun

gravity (countable and uncountable, plural gravities)

1. The state or condition of having weight; weight; heaviness.
2. The state or condition of being grave; seriousness.

3. (music) The lowness of a note.
4. (physics) Force on Earth's surface, of the attraction by the Earth's masses, and the centrifugal pseudo-force caused by the Earth's rotation, resulting from gravitation.
5. (in casual discussion, also) Gravitation, universal force exercised by two bodies onto each other (gravity and gravitation are often used interchangeably).
6. (physics) Specific gravity.

Synonyms

• weightfulness
• The state or condition of being grave: graveness, seriousness

Derived terms

• anti-gravity
• centre of gravity
• gravitation
• graviton
• gravity-assist
• gravity drag
• gravity turn
• gravity wave
• microgravity
• quantum gravity
• zero gravity

Translations

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “gravity”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

• Gravitation in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)