Verb

to invest with dignity or honour

to give distinction to

to exalt in rank

to honor.

Your worth will dignify our feast. - B. Jonson.

Verb

To see someone or something as different from others.

* {{quote-book, author=De Lacy O'Leary, title=, year=1922

, passage=It had begun to take a leading place even in the days of the Ptolemies, and in scientific, as distinguished from purely literary work, it had assumed a position of primary importance early in the Christian era.}}

* {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April

, author=(Jeremy Bernstein) , title=A Palette of Particles , volume=100, issue=2, page=146 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.}}

To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.

To make oneself noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.

* 1784 : William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c. , PREFACE

THE favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Per?ons of the fir?t di?tinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ?everal new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection; and di?tingui?h it from others; which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.

(obsolete) To make to differ.

* Bible, 1 Cor. iv. 7 (Douay version)

Who distinguisheth thee?