differentness
ər adjective
1.
not alike in character or quality; differing; dissimilar: The two are different.
2.
not identical; separate or distinct: three different answers.
3.
various; several: Different people told me the same story.
4.
not ordinary; unusual.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin different- (stem of differēns), present participle of differre. See differ, -ent
1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin different- (stem of differēns), present participle of differre. See differ, -ent
Related forms
dif·fer·ent·ly, adverb
dif·fer·ent·ness, noun
un·dif·fer·ent, adjective
un·dif·fer·ent·ly, adverb
Usage note
Although it is frequently claimed that different should be followed only by from, not by than, in actual usage both words occur and have for at least 300 years. From is more common today in introducing a phrase, but than is also used: New York speech is different from (or than) that of Chicago. Than is used to introduce a clause: The stream followed a different course than the map showed. In sentences of this type, from is sometimes used instead of than; when it is, more words are necessary: a different course from the one the map showed. Regardless of the sentence construction, both from and than are standard after different in all varieties of spoken and written American English. In British English to frequently follows different: The early illustrations are very different to the later ones. The use of different in the sense “unusual” is well established in all but the most formal American English: The décor in the new restaurant is really different.
Although it is frequently claimed that different should be followed only by from, not by than, in actual usage both words occur and have for at least 300 years. From is more common today in introducing a phrase, but than is also used: New York speech is different from (or than) that of Chicago. Than is used to introduce a clause: The stream followed a different course than the map showed. In sentences of this type, from is sometimes used instead of than; when it is, more words are necessary: a different course from the one the map showed. Regardless of the sentence construction, both from and than are standard after different in all varieties of spoken and written American English. In British English to frequently follows different: The early illustrations are very different to the later ones. The use of different in the sense “unusual” is well established in all but the most formal American English: The décor in the new restaurant is really different.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To differentness
00:10
Differentness
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
different (ˈdɪfərənt, ˈdɪfrənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | partly or completely unlike |
| 2. | not identical or the same; other: he always wears a different tie |
| 3. | out of the ordinary; unusual |
| usage The constructions different from, different to, and different than are all found in the works of writers of English during the past. Nowadays, however, the most widely acceptable preposition to use after different is from. Different to is common in British English, but is considered by some people to be incorrect, or less acceptable. Different than is a standard construction in American English, and has the advantage of conciseness when a clause or phrase follows, as in this result is only slightly different than in the US. As, however, this idiom is not regarded as totally acceptable in British usage, it is preferable either to use different from: this result is only slightly different from that obtained in the US or to rephrase the sentence: this result differs only slightly from that in the US | |
| 'differently | |
| —adv | |
| 'differentness | |
| —n | |
| different (ˈdɪfərənt, ˈdɪfrənt) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | partly or completely unlike |
| 2. | not identical or the same; other: he always wears a different tie |
| 3. | out of the ordinary; unusual |
| usage The constructions different from, different to, and different than are all found in the works of writers of English during the past. Nowadays, however, the most widely acceptable preposition to use after different is from. Different to is common in British English, but is considered by some people to be incorrect, or less acceptable. Different than is a standard construction in American English, and has the advantage of conciseness when a clause or phrase follows, as in this result is only slightly different than in the US. As, however, this idiom is not regarded as totally acceptable in British usage, it is preferable either to use different from: this result is only slightly different from that obtained in the US or to rephrase the sentence: this result differs only slightly from that in the US | |
| 'differently | |
| —adv | |
| 'differentness | |
| —n | |
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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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
different
c.1400, from Fr. différent (14c.), from L. differentem "differing, different," prp. of differre "to set apart" (see differ). Colloquial sense of "special" attested by 1912. Related: Differential (1640s); differently.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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