From Latin 'differre' (to carry apart) — things that differ are separated. The same verb also meant 'to postpone' (defer).
To be unlike or dissimilar; to disagree in opinion.
From Old French 'differer,' from Latin 'differre' (to carry apart, to scatter, to disperse, to postpone, to differ, to be unlike), a compound of 'dis-' (apart, in different directions, asunder) + 'ferre' (to bear, to carry). The PIE root behind 'ferre' is *bʰer- (to carry, to bear, to bring), one of the most productive roots in Proto-Indo-European. From *bʰer- come: English 'bear' (to carry), 'birth' (what is brought forth), 'burden,' German 'gebären' (to give birth), Latin 'ferre' producing 'fertile,' 'transfer,' 'prefer,' 'suffer,' 'offer,' Greek 'phérein' (to carry), Sanskrit 'bharati' (carries
Latin 'differre' had two distinct meanings — 'to be unlike' and 'to postpone' — both from the idea of carrying apart. English split these into separate words: 'differ' (to be unlike) and 'defer' (to postpone). French did the same: 'différer' means both, but context disambiguates. The two meanings diverged because carrying something apart can mean separating it (difference) or carrying it away to a later time (deferral).
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