Diuersitie: distinction: separation: noting of difference. Distinctio pugnantium sententiarum, Plin. iun. The diuersitle of contrarie sentences. Causarum distinctio ac dissimilitudo. Cic. Lex est iustorum iniustorú que distinctio. Ci. The noting of difference betweene inst and vniust. Distinctio syderum. Cic. Dinersitic of. Distinctio veri falso. Cic. Noting of difference. Facilis & expedita distinctio. Cic.

I. (Acc. to distinguo, I. B.)

A. In gen.

1. Subject., a distinguishing, discriminating, a distinction: harum rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio, Cic. Fin. 1, 10, 33; so, facilis ingenui et illiberalis jocis, id. Off. 1, 29 fin.: justorum injustorumque (lex), id. Leg. 2, 5 fin.: veri a falso, id. Fin. 1, 19 fin.: quaestionum, Quint. 4, 5, 6 et saep.—

2. Object., a difference, distinction: causarum distinctio ac dissimilitudo, Cic. Fat. 19; so, volucrum, Plin. 10, 11, 13, 29: quae distinctio sit inter ea, quae gignantur, et ea, quae sint semper eadem, Cic. Univ. 8: nulla in visis distinctio, id. Ac. 2, 15 fin.; Dig. 47, 2, 44.—Pregn.: lunae siderumque omnium distinctio, varietas, pulchritudo, ordo, i. e. the differences in their appearance and motions, Cic. N. D. 2, 5, 15.—

B. In rhet. and gram.

1. A separation, division, in discourse; and concr., a mark of separation, sign of interpunction, Cic. de Or. 3, 48, 186; Quint. 1, 5, 27; Diom. p. 432 P.—

2. A figure of speech, separation, distinction, Cic. de Or. 3, 54, 206; Quint. 9, 3, 65; esp. the contrast of opposing ideas, id. 9, 3, 82; the parting of opposing voices or votes, Plin. Ep. 8, 14, 6. —

II. (Acc. to distinguo, II.) A setting off, garnishing; an ornament: distinctio honosque civitatis, Plin. 28, 3, 3, 13.