Noun

(en noun)

The act of forming into a class or classes; a distribution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or attributes.

* {{quote-book

, year=1937-1952 , author=Jorge Luis Borges , title=Other Inquisitions citation , passage=On those remote pages it is written that animals are divided into (a) those that belong to the Emperor, (b) embalmed ones, (c) those that are trained, (d) suckling pigs, (e) mermaids, (f) fabulous ones, (g) stray dogs, (h) those that are included in this classification, (i) those that tremble as if they were mad, (j) innumerable ones, (k) those drawn with a verfy fine camel's hair brush, (l) others, (m) those that have just broken a flower vase, (n) those that resemble flies from a distance.}}

* 1997 : Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault , page 69 (Totem Books, Icon Books; ISBN 1840460865)

I’m using mathesis' — a universal science of '''measurement''' and '''order''' …
And there is also '''taxinomia''' a principle of ''''''classification'''''' and ordered '''tabulation'''.
Knowledge replaced universal resemblance with finite differences. History was arrested and turned into tables …
Western reason had entered the ' age of judgement .

Noun

(en noun)

That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination.

The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination.

* {{quote-book, year=1921, title=

, author=(Bertrand Russell), chapter=Lecture II , passage=In spite of these qualifications, the broad distinction between instinct and habit is undeniable. To take extreme cases, every animal at birth can take food by instinct, before it has had opportunity to learn; on the other hand, no one can ride a bicycle by instinct, though, after learning, the necessary movements become just as automatic as if they were instinctive.}}

* {{quote-book, year=1911, title=

, chapter=Evidence , passage=But, for practical purposes, it is possible to draw a distinction between a statement of facts observed and an expression of opinion as to the inference to be drawn from these facts, and the rule telling witnesses to state facts and not express opinions is of great value in keeping their statements out of the region of argument and conjecture.}}

Specifically, a feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished.

* {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)

, chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother

* 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Steven Gerrard goal against Poland ensures England will go to World Cup'' (in ''The Guardian , 15 October 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/15/england-poland-world-cup-qualifier]

Leighton Baines, playing with distinction again, sent over a left-wing cross with pace and accuracy. Welbeck, prominently involved all night, could not reach it but Rooney was directly behind him, flashing his header past Szczesny.