“distinction” in Latin

Act of discerning the difference between two or more objects, distinctio (with genitives of the objects; e.g., justorum injustorumque; or rei a re; e.g., veri a falso).

Objectively; the difference itself, distinctio (e.g., inter ea quae gignantur, et ea, quae, etc.; nulla in somnis distinctio apparet, Cic.): discrimen (that by which two things are separated, the partition wall, as it were; or that which constitutes the difference between such objects): dissimilitudo. (The words are found in this connection and order.) distinctio et dissimilitudo (e.g., causarum, Cic.): diversitas: differentia: discrepantia [SYN. of adjectives under DIFFERENT]: delectus (the distinction, as choice between two or more objects). (The words are found in this connection and order.) delectus atque discrimen. To make a distinction between (several objects), discrimen facere or servare (the latter to observe a distinction); delectum habere (as a matter of choice, both with genitive of the object between which the distinction is drawn): to draw a broad distinction between, etc., toto genere disjungere aliquid: to know the distinction between, etc., discrimen nosse inter, etc. I draw a wide distinction between the law of nations and civil law, aliud jus gentium, aliud jus civile esse volo: to draw or make no distinction, omnia promiscue habere: no distinction is made between friends and strangers, notum ignotumque nemo discernit: after this no distinction was made, postea promiscuum fuit: to make no distinction of persons, nullum personae or personarum discrimen facere or servare: to do away with all distinctions between, etc., (omnium) rerum delectum atque discrimen tollere: we ought to make a distinction between citizens and aliens, delectum habere debemus civis et peregrini: we must draw a distinction between the kinds of benefits received, acceptorum beneficiorum delectus habendi sunt (Cic.): the most essential distinction between man and the brute creation is our possession of reason and speech, nulla re longius absumus a natura ferarum, quam ratione et oratione (Cic.): what is the distinction between a liar and a perjurer? quid interest inter mendacem et perjurum? the distinction is more easily felt than explained, qualis differentia sit (e.g., honesti et decori), facilius intelligi, quam explanari potest (Cic.): there is a distinction between, etc., est quod differat inter (e.g., justitiam et verecundiam; Vid: “there is a DIFFERENCE” between): there is a broad distinction between, etc., aliquantum interest inter, etc., or nequaquam idem est (with accusative and infinitive.): there is too great a distinction between them, pernimium interest inter eos: with only this distinction, illo tantum discrimine interposito: without distinction, sine discrimine; promiscue: without distinction of persons, nullius habita ratione; delectu omni ac discrimine remoto; omissis auctoritatibus: without distinction of slave or free, sine discrimine liber an servus esset (or sit, Liv.): to slay all without distinction, omnes promiscue interficere.

Note of superiority, ornamentum (anything that is an ornament, or bestows honor upon the individual, as rank, title, post of honor, etc.): insigne (the visible distinction, or a mark of distinction): honor (honor, that is conferred on anybody): to treat anybody with distinction, maximos or amplissimos alicui habere honores; aliquem praecipuo honore habere or amplissimo honore ornare: with all imaginable distinction, omnia ornamenta in aliquem congerere (litterally, to heap distinctions on him); also multis ornamentis aliquem afficere: distinctions that are given or due to merit, insignia laudis (The words are found in this connection and order.) insignia atque ornamenta (e.g., honoris).

Rank, merit, etc., by which a man is distinguished; by circumlocution. A person of distinction, vir clarus or clarissimus; omnibus rebus ornatus or praecellens: a physician of considerable distinction, medicus arte insignis.

Discernment; Vid.