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dif·fer

(dĭfər)

intr.v. dif·fered, dif·fer·ing, dif·fers

1. To be dissimilar or unlike in nature, quality, amount, or form: Ambition differs from greed.

2. To be of a different opinion; disagree: The experts differ on what should be done to fix the economy.

3. Obsolete To quarrel; dispute.

[Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differre, to differ, delay : dis-, apart; see DIS- + ferre, to carry; see bher-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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