Difference
/ˈdɪf.ər.əns/noun
A point or way in which people or things are unlike.
Did you know?Difference ultimately descends from Latin roots built on ferre, “to carry,” the same root behind words such as offer and suffer.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“To carry, bear, or bring”
Classical Latin
Latin
ferre
“To carry, bear, or endure”
Classical Latin
Latin
differre
“To carry apart; to be unlike or differ”
Late Latin
Latin
differentia
“A difference, distinction, or distinguishing characteristic”
13th Century
Old French
difference
“Difference or distinction”
14th Century
Middle English
difference
“A distinction, disparity, or disagreement”
Modern English
English
difference
“A way in which things or people are unlike”