Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Let   $v$  be a henselian valuation of any rank of a field
 $v$  be a henselian valuation of any rank of a field   $K$  and let
 $K$  and let   $\bar{v}$  be the unique extension of
 $\bar{v}$  be the unique extension of   $v$  to a fixed algebraic closure
 $v$  to a fixed algebraic closure   $\overline{K}$  of
 $\overline{K}$  of   $K$ . In 2005, we studied properties of those pairs
 $K$ . In 2005, we studied properties of those pairs   $\left( \theta ,\,\alpha\right)$  of elements of
 $\left( \theta ,\,\alpha\right)$  of elements of   $\overline{K}$  with
 $\overline{K}$  with   $\left[ K\left( \theta\right):K \right]\,>\,\left[ K\left( \alpha\right):K \right]$  where
 $\left[ K\left( \theta\right):K \right]\,>\,\left[ K\left( \alpha\right):K \right]$  where   $\alpha $  is an element of smallest degree over
 $\alpha $  is an element of smallest degree over   $K$  such that
 $K$  such that
  $$\bar{v}\left( \theta \,-\,\alpha\right)\,=\,\sup \left\{ \bar{v}\left( \theta \,-\,\beta\right)\,|\,\beta \,\in \,\bar{K},\,\left[ K\left( \beta\right):K \right]\,<\,\left[ K\left( \theta\right):K \right] \right\}\,.$$
 $$\bar{v}\left( \theta \,-\,\alpha\right)\,=\,\sup \left\{ \bar{v}\left( \theta \,-\,\beta\right)\,|\,\beta \,\in \,\bar{K},\,\left[ K\left( \beta\right):K \right]\,<\,\left[ K\left( \theta\right):K \right] \right\}\,.$$
Such pairs are referred to as distinguished pairs. We use the concept of liftings of irreducible polynomials to give a different characterization of distinguished pairs.