LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininethird declension

distīnctiō

distīnctiō f (genitive distīnctiōnis)
Classical[dɪsˈtiːŋk.ti.oː]Ecclesiastical[disˈtiŋk.t͡si.o]

Meaning

  1. difference, distinction
  2. sign of interpunction, punctuation mark

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativedistīnctiōdistīnctiōnēs
genitivedistīnctiōnisdistīnctiōnum
dativedistīnctiōnīdistīnctiōnibus
accusativedistīnctiōnemdistīnctiōnēs
ablativedistīnctiōnedistīnctiōnibus
vocativedistīnctiōdistīnctiōnēs

distinctĭo, ōnis, f. distinguo.
I. (Acc. to distinguo, I. B.)
A. In gen.
1. Subject., a distinguishing, discriminating, a distinction: harum rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio, Cic. Fin. 1, 10, 33; so, facilis ingenui et illiberalis jocis, id. Off. 1, 29 fin.: justorum injustorumque (lex), id. Leg. 2, 5 fin.: veri a falso, id. Fin. 1, 19 fin.: quaestionum, Quint. 4, 5, 6 et saep.—
2. Object., a difference, distinction: causarum distinctio ac dissimilitudo, Cic. Fat. 19; so, volucrum, Plin. 10, 11, 13, § 29: quae distinctio sit inter ea, quae gignantur, et ea, quae sint semper eadem, Cic. Univ. 8: nulla in visis distinctio, id. Ac. 2, 15 fin.; Dig. 47, 2, 44.—Pregn.: lunae siderumque omnium distinctio, varietas, pulchritudo, ordo, i. e. the differences in their appearance and motions, Cic. N. D. 2, 5, 15.—
B. In rhet. and gram.
1. A separation, division, in discourse; and concr., a mark of separation, sign of interpunction, Cic. de Or. 3, 48, 186; Quint. 1, 5, 27; Diom. p. 432 P.—
2. A figure of speech, separation, distinction, Cic. de Or. 3, 54, 206; Quint. 9, 3, 65; esp. the contrast of opposing ideas, id. 9, 3, 82; the parting of opposing voices or votes, Plin. Ep. 8, 14, 6. —
II. (Acc. to distinguo, II.) A setting off, garnishing; an ornament: distinctio honosque civitatis, Plin. 28, 3, 3, § 13.

Origins

Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin distīnctiō From distinguō + -tiō.

Descendants
  • Catalandistinció
  • Frenchdistinctionfrom Old French distinction
  • Englishdistinctionfrom Old French distinction
  • Italiandistinzione
  • Portuguesedistinção
  • Romaniandistincție
  • Spanishdistinción
  • Galiciandistinción
  • Piedmontesedistinsion

Quick answers

What does distīnctiō mean in Latin?
distīnctiō, a noun, means “difference, distinction; sign of interpunction, punctuation mark”.
What is the genitive of distīnctiō?
The genitive singular is distīnctiōnis. distīnctiō is feminine, third declension.
How do you pronounce distīnctiō?
In classical Latin, [dɪsˈtiːŋk.ti.oː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [disˈtiŋk.t͡si.o].