* "Distinctus" is the past participle of the verb "distinguere", which means "to separate", "to distinguish", or "to make different".
The word "distinguere" itself comes from the prefix "dis-" (meaning "apart") and the verb "stinguere" (meaning "to prick" or "to pierce").
Therefore, the word "distinct" literally means "pricked apart" or "separated". This makes sense because something distinct is easily recognizable and stands apart from other things.