† diˈstingue, v. Obs.
Also 4 distyng(e, 4–5 distingwe, 6 Sc. distuing.
[ME. disting-en, distingue-n, a. F. distingue-r (13th c. in Littré), ad. L. distinguĕre to distinguish, f. di-, dis- 1 + stinguĕre orig. ‘to prick or stick’, but found only in sense ‘to extinguish’.]
= distinguish (in various senses).
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter Prol., Þis boke is distyngid in thris fyfty psalmes. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. v. 47 Art þou distingwed and embelised by þe spryngyng floures? c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 202 Here we moten distingue blame fro liȝt synne. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. i. (1885) 110 In tho dayis regimen politicum et regale, was distyngued a regimine tantum regale. 1596 Dalrymple Leslie's Hist. Scot. iv. 387 Quairto thrie or four distuing or define J in this speiking. |