contradistinguish

C2+ Topic:Mind & Cognition
US /ˌkɑːn.trə.dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/ UK /ˌkɒn.trə.dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to distinguish one thing from another by contrasting their different or opposite qualities

    Mill contradistinguishes practical judgment from abstract moral theory.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to distinguish one thing... contrastdifferentiatedistinguish
Opposites
Word family
Forms contradistinguished
Derived forms contradistinguishedcontradistinguishingcontradistinction
Related forms distinguishcontrastcontradistinctive

Etymology

Formed in English from contra-, 'against or in contrast,' and distinguish. Distinguish comes through French from Latin distinguere, 'to separate or mark off.' The compound means to mark a distinction specifically through contrast.

Topics

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