discriminative

[Eng. disc rim in at( e ); -ive .] 1. Serving to distinguish or make distinct; distinguishing, distinctive, characteristic. "These discriminative badges have as great a rate set upon them." -Hall : Contempl . , vol. i.; Of Religion . 2. Discriminating; observing distinctions or differences. "Discriminative Providence knew before the nature and course of all things."-More. Antidote against Atheism. dis crim-in-a-tive-ly, adv . [Eng. disc rim in ative : -ly.] In a discriminating manner; with dis"Worthily and disc rim i natively used."- Mede : Diatribe, crimination. B. In trans.: To mark, discern, or note the differ ence between things; to make a distinction or difference. "At length mankind Had reached the sinewy firmne of their youth And could discriminate and argue well." Corper : Task , v. 287-89. For the difference between to discriminate and to distinguish, see DISTINGUISH.