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.

Noun

(en noun)

(lb) Benefit; value, profit; advantage toward success.

*:

*:I shal take the aduenture sayd Balen that god wille ordeyne me / but the swerd ye shalle not haue at this tyme by the feythe of my body / ye shalle repente hit within short tyme sayd the damoysel/ For I wold haue the swerd more for your auaylle than for myne / for I am passyng heuy for your sake

*, III.1:

*:hardy Citizenssticke not to sacrifice their honours and consciences, as those of old, their lives, for their Countries availe and safety.

*{{quote-book, 1895, (Andrew Lang), A Monk of Fife

, passage=So this friar, unworthy as he was of his holy calling, had me at an avail on every side, nor do I yet see what I could do but obey him, as I did.}}

Effect in achieving a goal or aim; purpose, use (now usually in negative constructions).

:

*

*:Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

*2014 , , " Southampton hammer eight past hapless Sunderland in barmy encounter", The Guardian , 18 October:

*:At half-time, Poyet replaced Wes Brown with Liam Bridcutt in the heart of defence and sent out the rest of the players to atone for their first-half mistakes. To no avail .

*(Richard Henry Stoddard) (1825–1903)

*:the avails of their own industry

Effort; striving.

*{{quote-book, 1613, (Thomas Campion), chapter=Songs of Mourning, , year_published=1907, page=125, title= Poetical Works (in English) of Thomas Campion

, passage=And ev'n now, though he breathless lies, his sails / Are struggling with the winds, for our avails / T'explore a passage hid from human tract, / Will fame him in the enterprise or fact.}}

An advertising slot or package.

*{{quote-book, 1994, Barry L. Sherman, page=353, title= Telecommunications Management: Broadcasting/cable and the New Technologies, isbn=0070566984

, passage=The salesperson at an affiliate TV station might prepare an avail which offers two weeks of spots in early and late news

*{{quote-book, 2004, Walter S. Ciciora et al., page=123, title= Modern Cable Television Technology: Video, Voice, and Data Communications, isbn=1558608281

, passage=At an avail , the ad server plays out the MPEG-2 audio/video elementary streams.}}

A press avail.

:

Non-binding notice of availability for work.

(lb) A readily available stock of oil.

*{{quote-book, 1967, title= Interstate Compact on Oil and Gas (10th Extension), page=95

, passage=Total crude oil avails (production plus purchases) of even highly "self-sufficient" refiners are far greater than their reported refinery inputs.}}