distinguishing

/di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish/

alteration of Middle English distinguen, from Anglo-French distinguer, from Latin distinguere, literally, to separate by pricking, from dis- + -stinguere (akin to Latin instigare to urge on)

verb

  1. to perceive a difference in : mentally, separate

  2. to mark as separate or different

  3. to separate into kinds, classes, or categories

so alike they could not be distinguished