differentia
/ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪə
/noun (plural differentiae /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪiː/)
1A distinguishing mark or characteristic.Then I turn over in my mind the list of topical differentiae and I see that the differentia ‘from equals’ will provide me with the argument I need....
- The differentiae of specific emotions are not physiological, but cognitive or something else.
- Indeed, a major differentia between philosophy and theology lies in each discipline's locus of authority and attitude toward its own past.
1.1chiefly Philosophy An attribute that distinguishes a species of thing from other species of the same genus.The text deals with a detailed explanation of the five logical-ontological key concepts: genus, species, differentia, essential attribute and accidental attribute....
- As a result, if being were a genus, no differentiae could be said to have being; but ‘the differentiae of any genus must each of them both have being and be one’.
- Its matter is its genus, which is only potentially the species defined; its differentia is the form that actualizes the matter.
Origin
Late 17th century: from Latin, literally 'difference', from different- 'carrying away' (see different).