From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Difference \Dif"fer*ence\, n. [F. diff['e]rence, L.
differentia.]
1. The act of differing; the state or measure of being
different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity;
unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in
paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what
is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?
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Differencies of administration, but the same Lord.
--1 Cor. xii.
5.
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2. Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel;
hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
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What was the difference? It was a contention in
public. --Shak.
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Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving
the old warden and the young constable to compose
their difference as they could. --T. Ellwood.
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3. That by which one thing differs from another; that which
distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction;
characteristic quality; specific attribute.
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The marks and differences of sovereignty. --Davies.
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4. Choice; preference. [Obs.]
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That now he chooseth with vile difference
To be a beast, and lack intelligence. --Spenser.
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5. (Her.) An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the
bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the
same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under
Cadency.
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6. (Logic) The quality or attribute which is added to those
of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
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7. (Math.) The quantity by which one quantity differs from
another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one
from the other.
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Ascensional difference. See under Ascensional.
Syn: Distinction; dissimilarity; dissimilitude; variation;
diversity; variety; contrariety; disagreement; variance;
contest; contention; dispute; controversy; debate;
quarrel; wrangle; strife.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Difference \Dif"fer*ence\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Differenced; p.
pr. & vb. n. Differencing.]
To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different;
to distinguish.
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Thou mayest difference gods from men. --Chapman.
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Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are
not differenced from the meanest subject. --Milton.
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So completely differenced by their separate and
individual characters that we at once acknowledge them
as distinct persons. --Sir W.
Scott.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
difference
n 1: the quality of being unlike or dissimilar; "there are many
differences between jazz and rock" [ant: sameness]
2: a variation that deviates from the standard or norm; "the
deviation from the mean" [syn: deviation, divergence,
departure, difference]
3: a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had
a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable
differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and
Democrats" [syn: dispute, difference, {difference of
opinion}, conflict]
4: a significant change; "the difference in her is amazing";
"his support made a real difference"
5: the number that remains after subtraction; the number that
when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend [syn:
remainder, difference]