to be unlike, dissimilar, or distinct in nature or qualities (often fol. by from): The two writers differ greatly in their perceptions of the world. Each writer's style differs from that of another.
2.
to disagree in opinion, belief, etc.; be at variance; disagree (often fol. by with or from): His business partner always differs with him.
3.
Obsolete. to dispute; quarrel.
[Origin: 1325–75; ME differren to distinguish < MF differer to put off, distinguish, L differre to bear apart, put off, delay (see defer1) be different, equiv. to dif-dif-+ ferre to bear]
To be dissimilar or unlike in nature, quality, amount, or form: Ambition differs from greed.
To be of a different opinion; disagree: The critic differed with the author on several facts.
Obsolete To quarrel; dispute.
[Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differre, to differ, delay : dis-, apart; see dis- + ferre, to carry; see bher-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to be unlike or dissimilar: Birds differ from mammals. Their testimony disagreed on several points. People vary in intelligence.
c.1375, from O.Fr. diferer, from L. differre "to set apart, differ," from dis- "away from" + ferre "carry" (see infer). Two senses that were present in L. have gone separate ways in Eng. since c.1500 with defer (transitive) and differ (intransitive).
De*fer"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring.] [OE. differren, F. diff['e]rer, fr. L. differre to delay, bear different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Differ, Defer to offer.] To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold. Defer the spoil of the city until night. --Shak. God . . . will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name. --Milton.
De*lay"\, n.; pl. Delays. [F. d['e]lai, fr. OF. deleer to delay, or fr. L. dilatum, which, though really from a different root, is used in Latin only as a p. p. neut. of differre to carry apart, defer, delay. See Tolerate, and cf. Differ, Delay, v.] A putting off or deferring; procrastination; lingering inactivity; stop; detention; hindrance. Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat. --Acts xxv. 17. The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day. --Macaulay.
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