Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “differ” come from?

Differ comes from Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differo, composed of the prefix dis- and the root bʰer-, meaning to carry or bear.

differ (English): Not to have the same traits or characteristics;...

Definitions

  1. Not to have the same traits or characteristics;...

Ancestry of “differ”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdifferrenTo postpone or defer; to do later than was...
2Middle Frenchdéférer—
3Latindēferō—
4Latindē-—
5Latindē—
6Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
7Latinposteablative singular of postis
8Proto-Italicposti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “differ”

  • differeth
  • differest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →