différence

Pronunciation

• IPA: /di.fe.ʁɑ̃s/^[1]

Forms

différence f (plural différences)^[1] Old French diferance, deferance.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin differentia (“difference; distinguishing character”), first as “diferance”.^[2][3][4][1] The Latin noun comes from differēns, present participle of differō (“to carry in different directions; to put off; to differ”), from dis- (“apart”) and ferō (“to carry”).^[2][5] Latin used the plural “differentiae” for distinct objects, the species of a genus.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Benoît de Sainte-Maure (about 1160) and the homilies of Gregory on Ezekiel (about 1200) use it for the character that distinguishes one thing from another.^[2][3][5] The Roman de Renart has mais entre aus a grant diferance “but there is a great difference between them”.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In logic it has been the essential attribute that distinguishes a species from another since Richelet (1680).^[3][2] In the 17th century it came to mean a gap, an amount by which things differ: first in geometry (1611, Cotgrave), then in economics and gambling;^[3][2] Furetière (1690) gives two angles of 60 and 90 degrees whose difference is 30.^[3][2] On the stock exchange it is the difference in price between buying and selling (1842).^[7][5] In the 15th century it could still mean a dispute, now différend.^[6]

In the second half of the 20th century Jacques Derrida coined the spelling différance, after the present participle of différer, for the dynamic process that produces differences.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1160 – Diferance, in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^[2][5]
• 1611 – In geometry, in Cotgrave.^[3][2]
• 1680 – In logic, the specific difference, in Richelet.^[3]
• 1690 – The difference between two magnitudes, in Furetière.^[3]
• 1842 – On the stock exchange.^[7]
• 2nd half of the 20th century – Derrida's différance.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A difference, what distinguishes one thing or person from another: faire la différence, to tell the difference.^[8][5][1]
2. The amount by which two quantities differ; the balance to be paid: payer la différence.^[3][5]
3. (mathematics) The result of a subtraction.^[3][5]
4. (logic) The specific difference, the attribute that distinguishes a species within its genus.^[3][2]
5. À la différence de: unlike.^[8]

Related words

• différent
• différend
• différer
• différentiel
• Latin differentia

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert