Chapter 460

The distinction of tragedy into acts was not known. Dryden.

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.

To take away therefore that error, which confusion breedeth, distinction is requisite. Hooker.

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

The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter. Locke.

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

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

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

Your country's own means of distinction and defense. D. Webster.

Syn. -- Difference; variation, variety; contrast; diversity; contrariety; disagreement; discrimination; preference; superiority; rank; note; eminence.

Distinctive <Xpage=435>

Dis*tinc"tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. distinctif .]

1. Marking or expressing distinction or difference; distinguishing; characteristic; peculiar.

The distinctive character and institutions of New England. Bancroft.

2. Having the power to distinguish and discern; discriminating. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Distinctively <Xpage=435>

Dis*tinc"tive*ly , adv. With distinction; plainly.

Distinctiveness <Xpage=435>

Dis*tinc"tive*ness , n. State of being distinctive.

Distinctly <Xpage=435>

Dis*tinct"ly (?) , adv. 1. With distinctness; not confusedly; without the blending of one part or thing another; clearly; plainly; as, to see distinctly .

2. With meaning; significantly. [Obs.]

Thou dost snore distinctly ; There's meaning in thy snores. Shak.

Syn. -- Separately; clearly; plainly; obviously.

Distinctness <Xpage=435>

Dis*tinct"ness , n. 1. The quality or state of being distinct; a separation or difference that prevents confusion of parts or things.

The soul's . . . distinctness from the body. Cudworth.

2. Nice discrimination; hence, clearness; precision; as, he stated his arguments with great distinctness .

Syn. -- Plainness; clearness; precision; perspicuity.

Distincture <Xpage=435>

Dis*tinc"ture (?) , n. Distinctness. [R.]

Distinguish <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distinguished (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing .] [F. distinguer , L. distinguere , distinctum ; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen , E. stick , and perh. sting . Cf. Extinguish .]

1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.

Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. Dryden.

Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. Nares.

2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low .

Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. T. Burnet.

3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum .

We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. Watts.

Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. Shak.

4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ.

Who distinguisheth thee? 1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).

5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for . "To distinguish themselves by means never tried before."

Johnson.

Syn. -- To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.

Distinguish <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish , v. i. 1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between ; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle .

2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible. [R.]

The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. Jer. Taylor.

Distinguishable <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*a*ble (?) , a. 1. Capable of being distinguished; separable; divisible; discernible; capable of recognition; as, a tree at a distance is distinguishable from a shrub .

A simple idea being in itself uncompounded . . . is not distinguishable into different ideas. Locke.

2. Worthy of note or special regard.

Swift.

Distinguishableness <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*a*ble*ness (?) , n. The quality of being distinguishable.

Distinguishably <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*a*bly , adv. So as to be distinguished.

Distinguished <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guished (?) , a. 1. Marked; special.

The most distinguished politeness. Mad. D' Arblay.

2. Separated from others by distinct difference; having, or indicating, superiority; eminent or known; illustrious; -- applied to persons and deeds.

Syn. -- Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious; extraordinary; prominent. -- Distinguished , Eminent , Conspicuous , Celebrated , Illustrious . A man is eminent , when he stands high as compared with those around him; conspicuous , when he is so elevated as to be seen and observed; distinguished , when he has something which makes him stand apart from others in the public view; celebrated , when he is widely spoken of with honor and respect; illustrious , when a splendor is thrown around him which confers the highest dignity.

Distinguishedly <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*ed*ly (?) , adv. In a distinguished manner. [R.]

Swift.

Distinguisher <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, distinguishes or separates one thing from another by marks of diversity.

Sir T. Browne.

2. One who discerns accurately the difference of things; a nice or judicious observer.

Dryden.

Distinguishing <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*ing , a. Constituting difference, or distinction from everything else; distinctive; peculiar; characteristic.

The distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion. Locke.

Distinguishing pennant (Naut.) , a special pennant by which any particular vessel in a fleet is recognized and signaled.

Simmonds.

Distinguishingly <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*ing*ly , adv. With distinction; with some mark of preference.

Pope.

Distinguishment <Xpage=435>

Dis*tin"guish*ment (?) , n. Observation of difference; distinction.

Graunt.

Distitle <Xpage=435>

Dis*ti"tle (?) , v. t. To deprive of title or right. [R.]

B. Jonson.

Distoma <Xpage=435>

Dis"to*ma (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ mouth.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of parasitic, trematode worms, having two suckers for attaching themselves to the part they infest. See 1st Fluke , 2.

Distort <Xpage=435>

Dis*tort" (?) , a. [L. distortus , p. p. of distorquere to twist, distort; dis- + torquere to twist. See Torsion .] Distorted; misshapen. [Obs.]

Her face was ugly and her mouth distort . Spenser.

Distort <Xpage=435>

Dis*tort" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distorted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Distorting .]

1. To twist of natural or regular shape; to twist aside physically; as, to distort the limbs, or the body .

Whose face was distorted with pain. Thackeray.

2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally.

Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men. Tillotson.

3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their meaning .

Syn. -- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.

Distorter <Xpage=435>

Dis*tort"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, distorts.

Distortion <Xpage=435>

Dis*tor"tion (?) , n. [L. distortio : cf. F. distortion .]

1. The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body .

2. A wresting from the true meaning.

Bp. Wren.

3. The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion.

4. (Med.) An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the body producing visible deformity.

Distortive <Xpage=435>

Dis*tort"ive (?) , a. Causing distortion.

Distract <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract" (?) , a. [L. distractus , p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace , and cf. Distraught .]

1. Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.]

2. Insane; mad. [Obs.]

Drayton.

Distract <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distracted , old p. p. Distraught ; p. pr. & vb. n. Distracting .]

1. To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin.

A city . . . distracted from itself. Fuller.

2. To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the attention.

Mixed metaphors . . . distract the imagination. Goldsmith.

3. To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass.

Horror and doubt distract His troubled thoughts. Milton.

4. To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; -- most frequently used in the participle, distracted .

A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath distracted her. Shak.

Distracted <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"ed , a. Mentally disordered; unsettled; mad.

My distracted mind. Pope.

Distractedly <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"ed*ly , adv. Disjointedly; madly.

Shak.

Distractedness <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"ed*ness , n. A state of being distracted; distraction.

Bp. Hall.

Distracter <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, distracts away.

Distractful <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"ful (?) , a. Distracting. [R.]

Heywood.

Distractible <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"i*ble (?) , a. Capable of being drawn aside or distracted.

Distractile <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"ile (?) , a. (Bot.) Tending or serving to draw apart.

Distracting <Xpage=435>

Dis*tract"ing , a. Tending or serving to distract.

Distraction <Xpage=435>

Dis*trac"tion (?) , n. [L. distractio : cf. F. distraction .]

1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation.

To create distractions among us. Bp. Burnet.

2. That which diverts attention; a diversion. "Domestic distractions ."

G. Eliot.

3. A diversity of direction; detachment. [Obs.]

His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all species. Shak.

4. State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity.

That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction . 1 Cor. vii. 3<?/.

5. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions .

Never was known a night of such distraction . Dryden.

6. Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair.

The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together, would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler.

7. Derangement of the mind; madness.

Atterbury.

Syn. -- Perplexity; confusion; disturbance; disorder; dissension; tumult; derangement; madness; raving; franticness; furiousness.

Distractious <Xpage=435>

Dis*trac"tious (?) , a. Distractive. [Obs.]

Distractive <Xpage=435>

Dis*trac"tive (?) , a. Causing perplexity; distracting. " Distractive thoughts."

Bp. Hall.

Distrain <Xpage=435>

Dis*train" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distrained (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Distraining .] [OE. destreinen to force, OF. destreindre to press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere , districtum , to draw asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See Strain , and cf. Distress , District , Distraint .]

1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict. [Obs.] " Distrained with chains."

Chaucer.

2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.]

Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain . Spenser.

3. (Law) (a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take possession of as security for nonpayment of rent, the reparation of an injury done, etc.; to take by distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an amercement . (b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels .

Distrain <Xpage=435>

Dis*train" , v. i. To levy a distress.

Upon whom I can distrain for debt. Camden.

Distrainable <Xpage=435>

Dis*train"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being, or liable to be, distrained.

Blackstone.

Distrainer <Xpage=435>

Dis*train"er (?) , n. Same as Distrainor .

Distrainor <Xpage=435>

Dis*train"or (?) , n. (Law) One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels.

Blackstone.

Distraint <Xpage=435>

Dis*traint" (?) , n. [OF. destrainte distress, force.] (Law) The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress.

Abbott.

Distrait <Xpage=435>

Dis`trait" (?) , a. [F. See Distract .] Absent-minded; lost in thought; abstracted.

Distraught <Xpage=435>

Dis*traught" (?) , p. p. & a. [OE. distract , distrauht . See Distract , a. ]

1. Torn asunder; separated. [Obs.] "His greedy throat . . . distraught ."

Spenser.

2. Distracted; perplexed. " Distraught twixt fear and pity."

Spenser.

As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror. Shak.

To doubt betwixt our senses and our souls Which are the most distraught and full of pain. Mrs. Browning.

Distraughted <Xpage=435>

Dis*traught"ed , a. Distracted. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Distream <Xpage=435>

Dis*tream" (?) , v. i. [Pref. dis- (intens.) + stream .] To flow. [Poetic]

Yet o'er that virtuous blush distreams a tear. Shenstone.

Distress <Xpage=435>

Dis*tress" (?) , n. [OE. destresse , distresse , OF. destresse , destrece , F. d\'82tresse , OF. destrecier to distress, (assumed) LL. districtiare , fr. L. districtus , p. p. of distringere . See Distrain , and cf. Stress .]

1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends .

Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress . Shak.

2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery.

Affliction's sons are brothers in distress . Burns.

3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress , from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.

4. (Law) (a) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel out of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc. (b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction.

Bouvier. Kent. Burrill.

If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of goods and cattle. Spenser.

The distress thus taken must be proportioned to the thing distrained for. Blackstone.

Abuse of distress . (Law) See under Abuse .

Syn. -- Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. See Affliction .

Distress <Xpage=435>

Dis*tress" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distressed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Distressing .] [Cf. OF. destrecier . See Distress , n. ]

1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed . 2 Cor. iv. 8.

2. To compel by pain or suffering.

Men who can neither be distress ed nor won into a sacrifice of duty. A. Hamilton.

3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.

Syn. -- To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy.

Distressedness <Xpage=435>

Dis*tress"ed*ness , n. A state of being distressed or greatly pained.

Distressful <Xpage=435>

Dis*tress"ful (?) , a. Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with, distress; as, a distressful situation . "Some distressful stroke." Shak . " Distressful cries." Pope . -- Dis*tress"ful*ly , adv.

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Distressing <Xpage=436>

Dis*tress"ing (?) , a. Causing distress; painful; unpleasant.

Distressing <Xpage=436>

Dis*tress"ing , adv. In a distressing manner.

Distributable <Xpage=436>

Dis*trib"u*ta*ble (?) , a. Capable of being distributed.

Sir W. Jones.

Distributary <Xpage=436>

Dis*trib"u*ta*ry (?) , a. Tending to distribute or be distributed; that distributes; distributive.

Distribute <Xpage=436>