What does the root word -tinguish mean?

The root word "-tinguish" comes from the Latin word "distinguere," meaning "to mark out, to separate, to make different." It refers to the act of identifying or recognizing differences between things.

Here's how the root word plays out in various words:

* Distinguish: To perceive or recognize a difference.

* Extinguish: To put out a flame or light, thereby making it disappear.

* Distinguished: Marked by excellence or eminence, standing out from others.

* Indistinguishable: So alike that it's impossible to tell the difference.

Essentially, the root "-tinguish" highlights the act of making something stand out or clearly separate from its surroundings.