Noun

(uncountable) The characteristics which contribute to the differentiation or distinction of someone or something from a group of otherwise comparable identity.

*

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=6 citation , passage=Even in an era when individuality in dress is a cult, his clothes were noticeable. He was wearing a hard hat of the low round kind favoured by hunting men, and with it a black duffle-coat lined with white.}}

(countable)  A person.

*

Noun

(en noun)

A distinction; observation of difference.

* 1865 , John Grote, Exploratio philosophica: rough notes on modern intellectual science, Part 1 , University of Cambridge, page 50:

*:"We notice what we notice and make it a thing'' distinguishing it from what else is within our view, ''partly'' because, doubtless, it is of such or such a size and shape: but we require more impulse to the notice and distinguishment than ''this furnishes."

* 1833 ; Samuel Lewis Southard, Joseph Hendrickson, Thomas L. Shotwell, Edward Hopper; Argument of Samuel L. Southard: in the case of Stacy Decow and Joseph Hendrickson versus Thomas L. Shotwell , page 157:

*:"And first, in your doctrines of God, whom you say is to be known and believed on, as in the distinguishment of three persons...