differentian.
/ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃə/, U.S. /ˌdɪfəˈrɛn(t)ʃ(i)ə/ Chiefly Philosophy and Logic.
A characteristic by which a given species is distinguished from all other species of the same genus; = difference n.1 5d (see note there). In extended use: a distinguishing characteristic or feature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [noun] > a characteristic
privilegec1225
distinctionc1374
propertyc1390
tachea1400
pointa1425
specialty?a1425
difference?c1425
conditionc1460
markc1522
touch1528
specialty1532
differentia1551
character?1569
formality1570
particularity1585
peculiar1589
accent1591
appropriation1600
characterism1603
peculiarity1606
resemblance1622
propera1626
speciality1625
specificationa1631
appropriament1633
characteristic1646
discrimination1646
diagnostic1651
characteristical1660
stroke1666
talent1670
physiognomya1680
oddity1713
distinctive1816
spécialité1836
trait1864
flavour1866
middle name1905
discriminant1920
discriminator1943
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical classification > [noun] > a division, group, or class > member of > distinguishing feature(s) of member of
difference?c1425
differentia1551
gradual difference1651
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. B.viiv Differentia, that is to say the difference, is the same that is spoken of many whiche differ in fourme and kinde.
1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke v. i. 199 It hath pleased some of the later sorte to make Apostema as the species or differentia of those tumours besides nature.
1630 G. Widdowes Schysmatical Puritan sig. A3v This is his differentia, his essentiall difference, his essentiall Qualitie.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iii. iii. §10. 192 Defining by Genus and Differentia, (I crave leave to use these terms of Art, though originally Latin, since they most properly suit those Notions they are applied to).
1725 E. Combe tr. P.-D. Huet Weakness Human Understanding i. iv. 37 If then the Genus and Differentia of Things cannot be known, we can neither know their Definition nor Essence.
1783 H. Blair Lect. Rhetoric I. xx. 414 Particular expresses what in the logical Style is called Species; peculiar, what is called differentia.
1850 C. Kingsley in Fraser's Mag. Sept. 247/1 This deep, simple faith in the divineness of Nature..which, in our eyes, is Mr. Tennyson's differentia.
1889 A. Lang in H. H. Romilly Verandah in N. Guinea Introd. 17 To be inconsistent and incoherent and self-contradictory is the very differentia and characteristic of myth.
1920 A. S. Woodburne Relation between Relig. & Sci. ii. 30 An attempt to define the differentia of the religious and scientific attitudes.
1956 Times 10 Dec. 5/7 The main differentia of a carol is a refrain or burden to be repeated between verses.
2012 M. Fricke Logic & Organization of Information v. 180 Each of the component hierarchies has differentiae.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1551