dif·fer

[dif-er]
verb (used without object)
1.
to be unlike, dissimilar, or distinct in nature or qualities (often followed 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 followed by with or from ): His business partner always differs with him.
3.
Obsolete. to dispute; quarrel.

Origin:
1325–75; Middle English differren to distinguish < Middle French differer to put off, distinguish, Latin differre to bear apart, put off, delay (see defer1) be different, equivalent to dif- dif- + ferre to bear

un·dif·fer·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To differ
00:10
Differ is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
Collins
World English Dictionary
differ (ˈdɪfə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb (often foll by from or with)
1.  (often foll by from) to be dissimilar in quality, nature, or degree (to); vary (from)
2.  to be at variance (with); disagree (with)
3.  dialect to quarrel or dispute
4.  agree to differ to end an argument amicably while maintaining differences of opinion
 
[C14: from Latin differre, literally: to bear off in different directions, hence scatter, put off, be different, from dis- apart + ferre to bear]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

differ
late 14c., 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). Related: Differed; differing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

differ

see beg to differ. Also see under difference; different.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Experts differ in their views on the impact of today's meeting.
As was noted above, things will differ depending on where you live and what
  position you hold and all that.
The details and paint jobs may differ, but the general aesthetic rarely does.
They differ markedly across borders, in a way that does not correlate with
  transport costs, nor exchange rate movements.
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