Main Entry: dif·fer·en·tia

Pronunciation: \ˌdi-fə-ˈren(t)-sh(ē-)ə\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural dif·fer·en·ti·ae \-shē-ˌē, -shē-ˌī\

Etymology: Latin, difference, from different-, differens

Date: 1551

: an element, feature, or factor that distinguishes one entity, state, or class from another; especially : a characteristic trait distinguishing a species from other species of the same genus