Etymology: Probably partly < differ v., and partly shortened < difference n.¹

Etymology: < (i) Middle French defferer, differer (French différer ) to have different or distinguishing qualities or features, to be different or dissimilar (1314 in Old French), to distinguish (one thing) from (another) (c1341; end of the 13th cent. in sense ‘to delay, postpone’: see defer v.¹), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin differre to carry away in different directions, to scatter, disperse, to separate, to bewilder, distract, to spread abroad, publish, to postpone, defer, to keep (someone) waiting, (intransitive) to be different, to disagree < dif- dif- prefix + ferre to bear, carry (see bear v.¹). Compare Old Occitan deferir, differre (15th cent. or earlier), Catalan diferir (1495 in senses corresponding to those of the English verb; 14th cent. or earlier in sense ‘to delay, postpone’), Spanish diferir (16th cent. in senses corresponding to those of the English verb; 15th cent. in sense ‘to delay, postpone’), Portuguese diferir (1572 in senses corresponding to those of the English verb; 1552 in sense ‘to delay, postpone’), Italian differire (1516 in senses corresponding to those of the English verb; 14th cent. in sense ‘to delay, postpone’).This verb is etymologically identical with defer v.¹ Use in the senses ‘to delay, postpone, to set aside’ and related meanings has gradually become distinguished in both pronunciation (especially the position of the main stress) and spelling, so that modern English has two entirely distinct verbs. The selection of forms with stress on the first syllable for the meanings recorded at this entry may have been partly determined by their close association with different adj. and difference n.¹ (Another factor may have been association with offer v. and suffer v., although the etymons of these verbs have a different form in French and in the other Romance languages. With defer v.¹ compare confer v., refer v., prefer v.) In sense 2b after difference n.¹ 5c.