différence French · revision 16913

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1160, Benoît de Sainte-Maure|origins=la fero}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /di.fe.ʁɑ̃s/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''différence''' ''f'' (plural différences)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|diferance]], [[m|fro|deferance]].^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|differentia|t=difference; distinguishing character]], first as “diferance”.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) The Latin noun comes from [[m|la|differēns]], present participle of [[m|la|differō|t=to carry in different directions; to put off; to differ]], from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]] and [[m|la|ferō|t=to carry]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Latin used the plural “differentiae” for distinct objects, the species of a genus.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==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.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) The ''Roman de Renart'' has ''mais entre aus a grant diferance'' “but there is a great difference between them”.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In logic it has been the essential attribute that distinguishes a species from another since Richelet (1680).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) 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;^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Furetière (1690) gives two angles of 60 and 90 degrees whose difference is 30.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) On the stock exchange it is the difference in price between buying and selling (1842).^(BHVF)^(GLLF 1989) In the 15th century it could still mean a dispute, now [[différend]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ 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.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1160 – ''Diferance'', in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1611 – In geometry, in Cotgrave.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1680 – In logic, the specific difference, in Richelet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – The difference between two magnitudes, in Furetière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1842 – On the stock exchange.^(BHVF)

+ * 2nd half of the 20th century – Derrida's ''différance''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|difference]], what distinguishes one thing or person from another: ''faire la différence'', to tell the difference.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The amount by which two quantities differ; the [[m|en|balance]] to be paid: ''payer la différence''.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The result of a [[m|en|subtraction]].^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(logic)'' The specific difference, the attribute that distinguishes a species within its genus.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''À la différence de'': unlike.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[différent]]

+ * [[différend]]

+ * [[différer]]

+ * [[différentiel]]

+ * [[la|differentia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}