different between distinguish vs decide

English

Etymology

From Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”), from di-, dis- (“apart”) + stinguere. Compare extinguish.

Pronunciation

• enPR: d?s-t?ng?gw?sh, IPA^(key): /d?s?t???w??/
• Rhymes: -???w??
• Hyphenation: dis?tin?guish

Verb

distinguish (third-person singular simple present distinguishes, present participle distinguishing, simple past and past participle distinguished)

1. To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics.

   Synonyms: differentiate, discriminate; see also Thesaurus:tell apart

   Antonym: confuse
2. To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.
3. To make oneself noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.
   • 1784: William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c., PREFACE

     THE favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Per?ons of the fir?t di?tinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ?everal new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection; and di?tingui?h it from others; which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.

4. (transitive, obsolete) To make to differ.

Usage notes

In sense “see a difference”, more casual than differentiate or the formal discriminate; more casual is “tell the difference”.

Derived terms

• distinguished
• distinguishable
• distinguishing
• distinguishness
• undistinguishing

Related terms

• distinct
• distinction
• extinguish

Translations

Further reading

• distinguish in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• distinguish in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Middle English deciden, from Old French decider, from Latin d?c?dere, infinitive of d?c?d? (“cut off, decide”), from d? (“down from”) + caed? (“cut”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??sa?d/

Verb

decide (third-person singular simple present decides, present participle deciding, simple past and past participle decided)

1. (transitive, intransitive) to resolve (a contest, problem, dispute, etc.); to choose, determine, or settle
2. (intransitive) to make a judgment, especially after deliberation

   • So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

3. (transitive) to cause someone to come to a decision
   • 1920, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventure of the Three Gables" (Norton edition, 2005, page 1537),

     It decides me to look into the matter, for if it is worth anyone's while to take so much trouble, there must be something in it.

4. (obsolete) to cut off; to separate
   • 1642, Thomas Fuller, The Holy State and the Profane State

     Our seat denies us traffic here; / The sea, too near, decides us from the rest.

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Synonyms

• make up one's mind
• choose
• determine
• pick

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• de-iced, deiced

Asturian

Verb

decide

1. third-person singular present indicative of decidir

Esperanto

Etymology

From decidi +? -e.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /de?t?side/
• Rhymes: -ide

Adverb

decide

1. decisively
2. decidedly

Interlingua

Verb

decide

1. present of decider
2. imperative of decider

Italian

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ide

Verb

decide

1. third-person singular present indicative of decidere

Anagrams

• decedi

Latin

Verb

d?c?de

1. second-person singular present active imperative of d?c?d?

Middle English

Verb

decide

1. Alternative form of deciden

Portuguese

Verb

decide

1. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present indicative of decidir
2. second-person singular (tu, sometimes used with você) affirmative imperative of decidir

Romanian

Etymology

From French décider, from Latin d?c?d?.

Verb

a decide (third-person singular present decide, past participle decis) 3rd conj.

1. to decide

   Synonym: hot?rî

Conjugation

Related terms

• decizie

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Spain) /de??ide/, [d?e??i.ð?e]
• IPA^(key): (Latin America) /de?side/, [d?e?si.ð?e]

Verb

decide

1. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of decidir.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of decidir.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of decidir.