Where does “contradistinction” come from?

Contradistinction comes from Latin contra and distinguere, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ meaning two, expressing the concept of distinguishing between opposing things.

contradistinction (English): Distinction by contrast; the provision of one...

Definitions

Distinction by contrast; the provision of one...

Ancestry of “contradistinction”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	English	distinction	That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of...
2	Old French	distinction	—
3	Latin	distinctio	difference, distinction; sign of interpunction,...
4	Latin	-tiō	tion, -ation, -ing
5	Latin	dissertātiō	(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
6	Latin	dissertus	arranged, disposed; explained
7	Latin	disserere	second-person singular future passive indicative...
8	Latin	dis-	asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9	Latin	calceus	shoe
10	Latin	calx	limestone; chalk; the finish line
11	Ancient Greek	χάλιξ	small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →Every word from Latin -tiō →Every word from Latin dis- →