distinguishing characteristic

“Since Leibniz 'time the term monad has been used by various philosophers to designate indivisible centres of force, but as a general rule these units are not understood to possess the power of representation or perception, which is the distinguishing characteristic of the Leibnizian monad.”

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 10: Mass Music-Newman

“Excepting possibly the last-mentioned group, the priests of all these cults, the singers, shouters, prayers and exhorters of Bootstrap-lifting have as their distinguishing characteristic that they do very little lifting at their own bootstraps, and less at any other man's.”

The Profits of Religion: An Essay in Economic Interpretation

“This simplicity of rite led to what may be called the distinguishing characteristic of Jewish sepulchres -- the deep loculus -- which, so far as is now known, is universal in all purely Jewish rock-cut tombs, but hardly known elsewhere.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary