difference English · revision 3337

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340, Ayenbite of Inwyt|origins=la ferre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɪf.ər.əns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|difference]],^(MWU 2024)^(COED 2004) [[bor|fro|difference|t=difference, distinction; argument, dispute]] and directly [[bor|la|differentia|t=diversity, difference]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from differēns (accusative differentem), the present participle of [[m|la|differre|t=to set apart]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart, away]] and [[m|la|ferre|t=to bear, carry]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*bher-|t=to carry]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[differ]] and [[different]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The condition of being different: 1340, in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A particular point of unlikeness is from 1393.^(OED 1989) “A disagreement, dispute, quarrel” is from the late 14th century (1387),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''at difference'', “at variance”, from 1525.^(OED 1989) In heraldry a ''difference'' is a mark that distinguishes the arms of one branch of a family from another, from 1481;^(OED 1989) In stock dealing the difference was the change in price between two dates, from 1717,^(OED 1989) and ''to split the difference'' is from before 1778.^(OED 1989) The verb, “to make different, distinguish”, is from 1481.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) In Yorkshire and Lincolnshire a difference was a wordy quarrel.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – the state of being different.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1387 – a dispute.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1393 – a point of unlikeness.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1481 – a heraldic mark; verb, to make different.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1717 – a change in stock prices.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1778 – ''split the difference''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The quality of being unlike.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A way in which things differ.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The amount by which things differ; in [[mathematics]], the result of [[subtraction]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A noticeable change or effect: ''make a difference''.^(AHD)

+ # A [[disagreement]] or [[quarrel]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(heraldry)'' A mark added to a [[coat of arms]] to distinguish a branch of a family.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To distinguish or [[differentiate]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[diff]]

+ * [[common difference]]

+ * [[finite difference]]

+ * [[potential difference]]

+ * [[symmetric difference]]

+ * [[vive la difference]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[differ]]

+ * [[different]]

+ * [[differentiate]]

+ * [[differentiation]]

+ * [[differential]]

+ * [[indifferent]]

+ * [[defer]]

+ * [[fertile]]

+ * [[transfer]]

+ * [[bear]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Of the nouns for a lack of correspondence or agreement, such as ''dissimilarity'', ''divergence'', ''variation'' and ''discrepancy'', ''difference'' is the most general.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}