King James Bible Dictionary

DIFFER, verb intransitive [Latin , to bear or move apart. See Bear.]

1. Literally, to be separate. Hence, to be unlike, dissimilar, distinct or various, in nature, condition, form or qualities; followed by from. Men differ from brutes; a statue differs from a picture; wisdom differs from folly.

One star differeth from another star in glory. 1 Corinthians 15:41.

2. To disagree; not to accord; to be of a contrary opinion. We are all free to differ in opinion, and sometimes our sentiments differ less than we at first suppose.

3. To contend; to be at variance; to strive or debate in words; to dispute; to quarrel.

Well never differ with a crowded pit.

DIFFER, verb transitive To cause to be different or various. A different dialect and pronunciation differs persons of divers countries. [This transitive use of the verb is not common, nor to be commended.]

DIFFERENCE, noun

1. The state of being unlike or distinct; distinction; disagreement; want of sameness; variation; dissimilarity. difference may be total or partial, and exist in the nature and essence of things, in the form, the qualities or degrees. There is a difference in nature between animals and plants; a difference in form between the genera and species of animals; a difference of quality in paper; and a difference in degrees of heat, or of light.

2. The quality which distinguishes one thing from another.

3. Dispute; debate; contention; quarrel; controversy.

What was the difference? It was a contention in public.

4. The point in dispute; ground of controversy.

5. A logical distinction.

6. Evidences or marks of distinction.

The marks and differences of sovereignty.

7. Distinction.

There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. Romans 10:12.

8. In mathematics, the remainder of a sum or quantity, after a lesser sum or quantity is subtracted.

9. In logic, an essential attribute, belonging to some species, and not found in the genus; being the idea that defines the species.

10. In heraldry, a certain figure added to a coat of arms, serving to distinguish one family from another, or to show how distant a younger branch is from the elder or principal branch.

DIFFERENCE, verb transitive To cause a difference or distinction. A regular administration of justice according to fixed laws differences a civilized from a savage state.

DIFFERENT, adjective

1. Distinct; separate; not the same; as, we belong to different churches or nations.

2. Various or contrary; of various or contrary natures, forms or qualities; unlike; dissimilar; as different kinds of food or drink; different states of health; different shapes; different degrees of excellence.

DIFFERENTIAL, adjective An epithet applied to an infinitely small quantity, so small as to be less than any assignable quantity. This is called a differential quantity. The differential method is applied to the doctrine of infinitesimals, or infinitely small quantities, called the arithmetic of fluxions. It consists in descending from whole quantities to their infinitely small differences, and comparing them. Hence it is called the differential calculus, or analysis of infinitesimals.

DIFFERENTLY, adverb In a different manner; variously. Men are differently affected with the same eloquence.

DIFFERING, participle present tense Being unlike or distinct; disagreeing; contending.