An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

To be unlike, dissimilar, or distinct in nature or qualities.

Etymology (EN): From O.Fr. différer, from L. differre “to set apart, differ,” from → dis- “away from” + ferre “to carry, bear” (cf. Av. baraiti “carries,” O.Pers. barantiy “they carry,” Mod.Pers. barad “carries,” Skt. bharati “carries,” Arm. berem “I carry,” Gk. pherein “to carry,” O.E., O.H.G. beran, Rus. brat’ “to take,” bremya “a burden”).

Etymology (PE): Degarsân “different,” from degar “another, other” (Mid.Pers. dit, ditikar “the other, the second,” O.Pers. duvitiya- “second,” Av. daibitya-, bitya- “second,” Skt. dvitiya- “second,” PIE *duitiio- “second”) + sân “manner, semblance” (variant sun, Mid.Pers. sân “manner, kind,” Sogdian šôné “career”) + budan “to be” (Mid.Pers. budan, from O.Pers./Av. bav- “to be; become, take place,” Av. buta- perf. ptcpl. pass., bavaiti “becomes,”
Skt. bhavati “becomes, happens,” bhavah “becoming; condition, state,” PIE *bheu- “to be, come into being, become;” cf. Gk. phu- “become,” phuein “to bring forth, make grow,” L. fui “I was” (perf. tense of esse), futurus “that is to be, future,” Ger. present first and second person sing. bin, bist, E. to be, O.Ir. bi’u “I am,” Lith. bu’ti “to be,” Rus. byt’ “to be”).