SG Heritage Dictionary

Distinction [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. The act of separating or distinguishing.

2. A note or mark of difference. [Seldom used.]

3. Difference made; a separation or disagreement in kind or qualities, by which one thing is known from another. We observe a distinction between matter and spirit; a distinction between matter and spirit; a distinction between the animal and vegetable kingdoms; a distinction between good and evil, right and wrong; between sound reasoning and sophistry.

4. Difference regarded; separation; preference; as in the phrase, without distinction which denotes promiscuously, all together, alike.

5. Maids, women, wives, without distinction fall.

6. Separation; division; as the distinction of tragedy into acts.

7. [In this sense, division would be preferable.]

8. Notation of difference; discrimination; as a distinction between real and apparent good.

9. In classing the qualities of actions, it is necessary to make accurate distinctions.

10. Eminence; superiority; elevation of rank in society, or elevation of character; honorable estimation. Men who hold a high rank by birth or office, and men who are eminent fro their talents, services or worth, are called men of distinction as being raised above others by positive institutions or by reputation. So we say, a man of note.

11. That which confers eminence or superiority; office, rank or public favor.

12. Discernment; judgment.

Distinction [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. A marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division.

2. The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination.

3. That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good.

4. Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance.

5. Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction.

Difference Roget’s Thesaurus §15

N. difference, variance, variation, variety, diversity, dissimilarity, disagreement, disparity, distinction, contradistinction, alteration, modification, permutation, moods and tenses, nice distinction, fine distinction, delicate distinction, subtle distinction, shade of difference, nuance, discrimination, differentia, different thing, something else, apple off another tree, another pair of shoes, horse of a different color, this that or the other

V. be different, differ, vary, ablude|, mismatch, contrast, divaricate, differ toto coelo, differ longo intervallo, vary, modify, discriminate

Adj. differing, different, diverse, heterogeneous, multifarious, polyglot, distinguishable, dissimilar, varied, modified, diversified, various, divers, all manner of, all kinds of, variform, daedal, other, another, not the same, unequal, unmatched, widely apart, poles apart, distinctive, characteristic, discriminative, distinguishing, incommensurable, incommensurate

Adv. differently

Phr. il y a fagots et fagots, 2, continuous relation

Discrimination Roget’s Thesaurus §465

N. discrimination, distinction, differentiation, diagnosis, diorism, nice perception, perception of difference, appreciation of difference, estimation, nicety, refinement, taste, critique, judgment, tact, discernment, acuteness, penetration, nuances, dope*, past performances

V. discriminate, distinguish, severalize, recognize, match, identify, separate, draw the line, sift, separate the chaff from the wheat, winnow the chaff from the wheat, separate the men from the boys, split hairs, draw a fine line, nitpick, quibble, estimate, know which is which, know what is what, know "a hawk from a handsaw", take into account, take into consideration, give due weight to, allow due weight to, weigh carefully

Adj. discriminating, dioristic, discriminative, distinctive, nice

Phr. il y a fagots et fagots, rem acu tetigisti, la critique est aisee et l'art est difficile, miles apart, a distinction without a difference

Repute Roget’s Thesaurus §873

N. distinction, mark, name, figure, repute, reputation, good repute, high repute, note, notability, notoriety, eclat, "the bubble reputation", vogue, celebrity, fame, famousness, renown, popularity, aura popularis, approbation, credit, succes d'estime, prestige, talk of the town, name to conjure with, glory, honor, luster, illustriousness, account, regard, respect, reputableness, respectability, good name, good report, fair name, dignity, stateliness, solemnity, grandeur, splendor, nobility, majesty, sublimity, rank, standing, brevet rank, precedence, pas, station, place, status, position, position in society, order, degree, baccalaureate, locus standi, caste, condition, greatness, eminence, height, importance, preeminence, supereminence, high mightiness, primacy, top of the ladder, top of the tree, elevation, ascent, superaltation, exaltation, dignification, aggrandizement, dedication, consecration, enthronement, canonization, celebration, enshrinement, glorification, hero, man of mark, great card, celebrity, worthy, lion, rara avis, notability, somebody, classman, man of rank, pillar of the state, pillar of the church, pillar of the community, chief, first fiddle, cynosure, mirror, flower, pink, pearl, paragon, choice and master spirits of the age, elite, star, sun, constellation, galaxy, ornament, honor, feather in one's cap, halo, aureole, nimbus, halo of glory, blaze of glory, blushing honors, laurels, memory, posthumous fame, niche in the temple of fame, immortality, immortal name, magni nominis umbra

V. be conscious of glory, be proud of, exult, be vain of, be distinguished, shine, shine forth, figure, cut a figure, make a dash, make a splash, rival, surpass, outshine, outrival, outvie, outjump, emulate, eclipse, throw into the shade, cast into the shade, overshadow, live, flourish, glitter, flaunt, gain honor, acquire honor, play first fiddle, bear the palm, bear the bell, lead the way, take precedence, take the wall of, gain laurels, win laurels, gain spurs, gain golden opinions, take one's degree, pass one's examination, make a noise, make some noise, make a noise in the world, leave one's mark, exalt one's horn, blow one's horn, star it, have a run, be run after, come into vogue, come to the front, raise one's head, enthrone, signalize, immortalize, deify, exalt to the skies, hand one's name down to posterity, consecrate, dedicate to, devote to, enshrine, inscribe, blazon, lionize, blow the trumpet, crown with laurel, confer honor on, reflect honor on, shed a luster on, redound to one's honor, ennoble, give honor to, do honor to, pay honor to, render honor to, honor, accredit, pay regard to, dignify, glorify, sing praises to, lock up to, exalt, aggrandize, elevate, nobilitate

Adj. distinguished, distingue, noted, of note, honored, popular, fashionable, in good odor in, favor, in high favor, reputable, respectable, creditable, remarkable, notable, notorious, celebrated, renowned, ion every one's mouth, talked of, famous, famed, far-famed, conspicuous, to the front, foremost, in the front rank, in the ascendant, imperishable, deathless, immortal, never fading, aere perennius, time honored, illustrious, glorious, splendid, brilliant, radiant, bright, full-blown, honorific, eminent, prominent, high, in the zenith, at the head of, at the top of the tree, peerless, of the first water, superior, supereminent, preeminent, great, dignified, proud, noble, honorable, worshipful, lordly, grand, stately, august, princely, imposing, solemn, transcendent, majestic, sacred, sublime, heaven-born, heroic, sans peur et sans reproche, sacrosanct

Phr. one's name being in every mouth, one's name living for ever, sic itur ad astra, fama volat, aut caesar aut nullus, not to know him argues oneself unknown, none but himself could be his parallel, palmam qui meruit ferat, "above all greek above all roman fame", - cineri gloria sera est, "great is the glory for the strife is hard", honor virtutis praemium, immensum gloria calcar habet, "the glory dies not and the grief is past", vivit post funera virtus

Int. hail, all hail, ave, viva, vive, long life to, banzai, [Jap.], glory be to, honor be to?

Nobility Roget’s Thesaurus §875

N. nobility, rank, condition, distinction, optimacy, blood, pur sang, birth, high descent, order, quality, gentility, blue blood of castile, ancien regime, high life, haute monde, upper classes, upper ten thousand, the four hundred, elite, aristocracy, great folks, fashionable world, peer, peerage, house of lords, house of peers, lords, lords temporal and spiritual, noblesse, noble, nobleman, lord, lordling, grandee, magnifico, hidalgo, daimio, daimyo, samurai, shizoku, don, donship, aristocrat, swell, three-tailed bashaw, gentleman, squire, squireen, patrician, laureate, gentry, gentlefolk, *squirarchy, better sort magnates, primates, optimates, pantisocracy, king, atheling, prince, duke, marquis, marquisate, earl, viscount, baron, thane, banneret, baronet, baronetcy, knight, knighthood, count, armiger, laird, signior, seignior, esquire, boyar, margrave, vavasour, emir, ameer, scherif, sharif, effendi, wali, sahib, chevalier, maharaja, nawab, palsgrave, pasha, rajah, waldgrave, princess, begum, duchess, marchioness, countess &c, lady, dame, memsahib, dona, maharani, rani, personage of distinction, man of distinction, personage of rank, man of rank, personage of mark, man of mark, notables, notabilities, celebrity, bigwig, magnate, great man, star, superstar, big bug, big gun, great gun, gilded rooster*, magni nominis umbra, "every inch a king"

V. be noble

Adj. noble, exalted, of rank, princely, titled, patrician, aristocratic, high-, well-born, of gentle blood, genteel, comme il faut, gentlemanlike, courtly, highly respectable

Adv. in high quarters

Phr. adel sitzt im gemuthe nicht im gebluete, adelig und edel sind zweierlei, noblesse oblige

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

1 KJV and 7 BSB verses contain “distinction”

Exodus 8:23

And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.

I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.’”

Exodus 9:4

And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.

But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

Exodus 11:7

But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

1 Chronicles 17:17

And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant and have regarded me as a man of great distinction, O LORD God.

Ezekiel 22:26

Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.

Acts 15:9

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

Romans 3:22

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,

1 Corinthians 14:7

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?