See Also: A-V difference(medicine)
difference(dictionary)
difference(dictionary)
DIFFERENCE(law)
Difference(medicine)
light difference(medicine)
difference equation(encyclopedia)
difference equation(medicine)
Difference check(finance)
Difference check(money)

difference (iou)



difference noun & verb. ME.
[Old & mod. French difference from Latin differentia, from different-: see DIFFERENT, -ENCE.]
A. noun.
The condition, quality, or fact of being not the same in quality or nature; dissimilarity; non-identity. ME.
G. Burnet In all this Diversity there is no real difference. J. Barzun The difference between a scientist and an inventor.
An instance of unlikeness; a respect in which things differ. LME.
S. Spender The differences between us remained more striking than the resemblances. J. B. Priestley The chief difference in the congregation was that there were fewer young people in it.
The quantity by which amounts differ; the remainder left after subtraction. LME.
b. spec. The amount of increase or decrease in the price of stocks or shares between certain dates. E18.
A divergence or disagreement in opinion; a dispute; a quarrel. LME.
K. Amis Buckmaster and the chauffeur were having a little difference about something.
A mark, device, or characteristic feature. Now rare or obsolete exc. Heraldry, an alteration made in a coat of arms to distinguish branches or members of the same family. LME.
Shakespeare Hamlet An absolute gentleman, full of most excellent differences.
b. Logic. A characteristic distinguishing a species from others of the same genus. M16.
A distinction regarded as conceived by a person rather than existing in the objects. Now only in make a difference between below. LME.
E. Stillingfleet To make them more capable of putting a difference between truth and falsehood.
A division, a class, a kind. M16-L17.
Phrases: a distinction without a difference: see DISTINCTION 2. at difference at variance. make a difference between treat differently. make all the difference be the deciding factor; be very significant. same difference: see SAME adjective. split the difference take the average of two proposed amounts. with a difference in a special way.
b. verb.
verb intrans. Be different, differ. rare. Only in L15.
verb trans.
a. gen. Make different, alter, vary. L15-L17.
b. Heraldry. Make an alteration in or addition to (a coat of arms) in order to distinguish branches or members of the same family. E18.
verb trans. Cause or constitute a difference in; differentiate, distinguish (one thing from another). Freq. in pass. L16.
E. B. Tylor Theologic change which differences the Jew of the Rabbinical books from the Jew of the Pentateuch.
verb trans. Perceive or mark the difference in or between; make a distinction between. (Foll. by from.) Now rare. L16.
G. Chapman I have remov'd those erring mists..That thou may'st difference Gods from men.
verb intrans. Perceive or mark the difference (between). M-L17.
Math. Find the difference or (formerly) the derivative of. Now rare or obsolete. L17.