Definition of differ

The word "differ" has a fascinating history. It originated from the Latin word "differre," which means "to delay" or "to put off." This Latin phrase is a combination of "dis-" (meaning "apart" or "from") and "fferre" (meaning "to bear" or "to carry"). In English, the verb "differ" initially meant "to separate" or "to distinguish" in the 14th century, and gradually evolved to mean "to be unlike" or "to vary" in the 15th century. Over time, the connotation of "differ" shifted from a sense of physical separation to a sense of conceptual distinction. Today, the word is used to describe differences between people, things, or ideas, often in a neutral or even a positive sense, such as acknowledging the diversity of human experiences and perspectives.