Middle English Dictionary Entry
difference n.
Entry Info
| Forms | difference n. Also differens, def(f)erence. Pl. difference(s, differens. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The fact of difference in kind; lack of identity, unlikeness, dissimilarity, diversity: (a) without constr.; (b) with prep. phr.; (c) with gen.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2138 : Alle [the Evangelists] acorden as in hir sentence, Al be ther in hir tellyng difference.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)30b/b : Herisipila..haþ double difference: oþer wiþ vlceracioun or wiþ oute vlceracioun.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)125 : There were vers iwriten, as me thoughte, On eyther half, of ful gret difference.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)210/29 : Zuych difference ase þer is betuene þe cheue and þe corn, be-tuene bren and flour of huete.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.423 : Touching þe cause þerof is no differens bytwene us [L non differimus].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2152 : In my sentence Shul ye nowher fynden difference Fro the sentence of this tretys lite.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.364 : Al thogh ther be a difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge, algates the ship is dreynt.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.259 : In makinge of comparison Ther mai no difference be Betwen a drunke man and me.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)105a/a : Þey þe worlde be Ihiȝt wiþ so meny noble & worthi difference [L differentiis] of þinges.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)148a/b : The Capoun..knowiþ no difference betwene þe oures of þe nyȝt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)189b/b : Þe place is lyche to þe kynde of Judea and hauyng no differens þerto in vertue.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)50/9 : Woundis þat ben maad wiþ smytynge..To hem happen greet difference fro woundis þat ben maad wiþ kuttynge.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)77/15 : Þis vlcus as a propre þing haþ difference from a þing þat is comoun.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)298/6 : O lord, whi is it so greet difference bitwixe a cirurgian & a phisician?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.9.75 : So that there ne be amonges hem no difference.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)17/19 : A defference þat es by-twyxe [vr. atwyxe] a manes saule in flesche and ane Aungelle.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.MRose (Hrl 2255)17 : A difference atwix [vrr. betwynt, betwixe, bytweene, betwyn, atwene] day and nyght.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)29.145 : Maydenhod and virginite Ne ben not bothe In on degre; but gret defferense betwene ham Is.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3081 : Þer is a long and a large difference Twix vertuous plesaunce and flaterie.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.164 : Than is it..pleyn Þat noblesse haþ no difference ffro suffisaunce, pouer and reuerence.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)14/34 : What difference or diuersite is þere bitwix þese iij maners of seiyngis?
c
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.395 : But pleinly, save oure tonges difference, I dar wel seyn..every word right thus.
2.
(a) That feature, or group of features, which makes for difference in kind; distinguishing feature(s; (b) ~ bitwene (atwene, bitwixe)..and, ~ of..and of, ~ of..mid, the distinctive difference between (one thing) and (another).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Mirror St.Edm.(1) (Vrn)864 : Þis is þe differens: Þe ten hestes techeþ hou þou schalt do, Þe seuen vertuwes techeþ þe matere also.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.744 : Wherof that I the difference..Schal do the pleinly forto wite.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14a/a : Þat we may knowe þe office, conueniens, & differens [L differentias] of al þe ordres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)316b/b : Þise difference, propretees, and cause of liquoures [ben] suffisauntlich y treted tofore.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)319b/a : Among þe forsaide differences gootes melk holdeþ þe mene.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)31/2 : Þe iij techinge is of difference of woundis & of general curis.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)90/4 : It is nessessarie to a surgian to knowe þe difference of þis science.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.6.246 : 'This is the difference,' quod sche.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)113b/a : Lepre..is corrupcioun of figure, which is propre difference of it.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)2b/a : Oþir þinges beþ I-putt for difference, but for it is logique be it left of.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)23a/a : How þe cause, þe effecte, þe kynde, þe spice, and þe accedentes or the differens, schal mowe be saide.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)23b/a : Þe differences of þe qualite and quantite ffolwen suche differences taken of þe mater.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)10/30 : Þe difference of þise heste mid þe zixte aboue yzed zuo is þet þe zixte heste uorbyet þe dede wyþ-oute, ac þis uorbyet þe grantinge wyþinne.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.401 : Take hede of þe difference bytwene Dorobernia and Dorovernia..ffor Dorobernia is Canterburye..and Dorovernia is Dovere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.552 : Ther is non evidence Wherof to knowe a difference Betwen the drunken and the wode.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2742 : Bytwen þe payne of helle namly And þe payn of purgatory Es na difference bot at þe tane Has ende, and þe tother has nane.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)27/18 : Þat ȝe may knawe þe difference betwix þa letters and letters of oþer langagez.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)54/20 : And schortely to declare þe deference atwene Tryumphus and Tropheum, Triumphe is a full and a plener ouer comynge of Enemyes bi bataile.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)5/27 : Þe difference of þis comaundement and of þe sixte bifore seid is þat [etc.].
3.
Her. An added or altered feature in a coat of arms which distinguishes a junior member or branch of a family from the principal line.
Associated quotations
- (1425) RParl.4.268a : Not withstondyng yat yei were comen of ye yonger brother, and yat hir difference yat yei bere in armes is further yanne my Lordes Mareschall, yit hade ever my Lord of Kent his place in Parlement, above my Lord Mareschall.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6175 : All þere colouris..was of clene yalow With-outen difference.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)231 : Northumbyrland armys wyth dyfference.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.286 : He and his heyres bare for a difference Englande armes with labell hole of Fraunce.
4.
(a) A difference in degree or size; (b) math. difference in quantity; the remainder left after a subtraction; (c) in the decimal system: a place or position in the representation of numbers.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)333b/b : Tonus is þe scharpnesse of voice and is difference and quantite of armony.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)213/6 : Þere was but litil difference bitwixe þe gretnes of hise schuldris & his necke.
b
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)36/7 : The quantite of that difference þat I clepe the remenaunt.
- a1400 ?Chaucer Astr.Suppl.(StJ-C E.2:Benson-Robinson)43.7 : Behold what is the differense between 1 and 2, and thou shalt finde that it is 1.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.20] 89a : The difference of the altitudes is the declinacion of thilke degre fro the equinoxial.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)268/31-2 : Take þe most numbir of þo 3 termys & encrese a noumbir a-boue with þe more difference þat was be-fore, þan hast þu 9 & 12 whois difference is 3.
c
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)34/30 : Alle nombres digitalle owne to be sette in the first difference; Alle articles in the seconde.
5.
Discrimination, differentiation, distinction; for ~ of, for ~ fro, for purpose of differentiation from; in ~ of, to (the) ~ of, in distinction from; maken (a) ~, putten ~, setten a ~, to make a distinction (between things).
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))3 Esd.4.39 : Treuthe..liueth, and weldeth, in to worldis of worldis. And to taken persones and differencis is not anent it.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.299 : Solempne letanyes..beeþ i-cleped þe lasse letayne for difference of [Higd.(2): to the difference of] þe more letayne.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)109 : Whethir he be a citeseyn othir a pilgrym, no difference of persoone shal be.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)145/19 : Summen maken difference bitwene þe necke & þe wesaunt & þe þrote-bolle.
- a1425(?a1400) PCounsel.(Hrl 674)161/18 : In þis place where I make a difference bitwix hem þat ben clepid to saluacion & hem þat ben clepid to perfeccion.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)27b/b : It is said estiomenus..with putrefaccioun and mollificacioun to þe difference [*Ch.(2): to difference; L ad differentiam] of lupi & cancri..Auicenna putteþ difference atuix hem [*Ch.(2): bytwene ham].
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 15.9 : Ande noghte he departed (or, made difference) bitwixe hem ande vs.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2347 : Tweyne maner folkis to putte in remembraunce, Off vice and vertu, and sette a difference.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)97 : This present lyf is called werre in deference of that aboue, the which is called victorius.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Consulo (Hrl 2255)119 : Crist so lyst..Tween vice and vertu to sette a difference.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Look TM (Hrl 2255)122 : Kynde in hir werkys can..Set differencys many moo than oon, Attwen Phebus and a litel sterre, Twen a fflynt and a precious stoon.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)46/15 : Þe namys of her kyngdoms be specified in special for difference of oþir citees and yles.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)53 : This last romulus postumus hath too names in þe cronicles for differens fro þe first romulus.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)43 : They, in difference of other nacions, have ever ewred and shewed the renomme [etc.].
6.
Difference of opinion, disagreement; also, a dispute.
Associated quotations
- (1418) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)129/19 : In þe same yere was a Gret dyfferens and distaunce off Sugar by twyxt John de la Towre Catalenys and William Michell..and othyr mo off þe Felleschyp.
- (1450) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.322 : Ȝef eny matter of debate or difference be betweene eny persoones of the said craft.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.leaf b i/b : Collaterall is calde in armys the sonnys of the bretheren of the right heyre beryng the cotarmuris of theyr faderis with a dyfferans Jemews. Fixall in armys..may bere there faderis cote armure with a differans molet.
Note: New form: Also..differans.
Note: Supplementary material for sense 3.
Note: Combination and gloss: ~ gemelles (molette), a specific variation to a familial coat of arms involving the addition of gemels (a mollette) to distinguish otherwise identical coats of arms belonging to members of the same family.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL