differ
[dif-er]
- 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.
- to disagree in opinion, belief, etc.; be at variance; disagree (often followed by with or from): His business partner always differs with him.
- Obsolete. to dispute; quarrel.
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Origin of differ
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
varydisagreedivergemodifycontradictaltercontrastsquabbledividedissentquarrelturnqualifydiversifydigressreversecontendbickerdiscorddisaccordExamples from the Web for differ
Contemporary Examples
Unlike Maryland, national costs for institutionalization as opposed to HCBS do not differ by an order of magnitude.
Medicaid Will Give You Money for At-Home Care, but You Might Wait YearsElizabeth Picciuto
December 2, 2014
Unlike Axler, Pacino says he has yet to lose his, though many critics would beg to differ.
Al Pacino Does What He Wants to Do: 'The Humbling,' Scorsese, and That 'Scarface' RemakeAlex Suskind
September 9, 2014
The soil variations are acute enough that they can differ radically from one side of a road to another.
My Netflix account and, more importantly, my wallet would beg to differ.
But a world of people who care so very passionately about figure skating for exactly 10 days every four years beg to differ.
Sotnikova Beat Kim Yu-Na? Figure Skating Is Probably Corrupt (But We Knew That)Kevin Fallon
February 21, 2014
Historical Examples
There only remains to examine the opinions of those who differ from me.
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part II]Benedict of Spinoza
Up to this point all aviators agree, but as to the best form most of them differ.
Flying MachinesW.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
Fortifications of the future will differ curiously from those of the present.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
From which virtuous and venomous opinion the undersigned begs to differ.
He did not differ from those around him in any respect, except that he did not carry a rifle.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
differ
- (often foll by from) to be dissimilar in quality, nature, or degree (to); vary (from)
- (often foll by from or with) to be at variance (with); disagree (with)
- dialect to quarrel or dispute
- agree to differ to end an argument amicably while maintaining differences of opinion
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Word Origin
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 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for differ
v.
late 14c., from Old French differer (14c.) and directly from Latin differre "to set apart, differ," from dis- "away from" (see dis-) + ferre "carry" (see infer).
Two senses that were present in Latin have gone separate ways in English since c.1500 with defer (transitive) and differ (intransitive). Related: Differed; differing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with differ
differ
see beg to differ. Also see under difference; different.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.