Distinction vs Compliment - What's the difference?
distinction | compliment | Related terms |
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 * 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]
An expression of praise, congratulation, encouragement, or respect.
* Milton
* Cowper
(uncountable) Complimentary language; courtesy, flattery.
*
(ambitransitive) To pay a compliment (to); to express a favorable opinion (of).
* Prior
Distinction is a related term of compliment.
As nouns the difference between distinction and compliment
is that distinction is that which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination while compliment is an expression of praise, congratulation, encouragement, or respect.As a verb compliment is
(ambitransitive) to pay a compliment (to); to express a favorable opinion (of).distinction
English
Noun
(en noun)citation, passage=Mother
- 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.
Derived terms
* contradistinction * distinction without a differenceAntonyms
* (that which distinguishes) confusioncompliment
English
(wikipedia compliment)Etymology 1
From (etyl), from (etyl) complire, from (etyl) complereNoun
(en noun)- Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear / So many hollow compliments and lies.
- many a compliment politely penned
- This accomplished man condescended to think of a young girl, and take the pains to talk to her, not with absurd compliment , but with an appeal to her understanding, and sometimes with instructive correction.
Synonyms
* See alsoAntonyms
*insultDerived terms
* backhanded compliment * left-handed compliment * with complimentsEtymology 2
From (etyl), from (etyl) complimento'' (etyl) ''cumplimiento'', from ''cumplir'', from ''complire'', from (etyl) ''complere .Verb
(en verb)- Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; / Should compliment their foes and shun their friends.