différez

Différez is a conjugated form of the French verb differer (différer). It appears as the present tense form for the second person plural (vous différez) and as the formal or plural imperative (Différez!). The verb has two primary meanings in French: to defer or postpone something, and to differ or be different from something else.

Etymology and senses: Différer comes from Latin differre, meaning to carry apart, delay, or diverge. In modern French, différer as a postponement is common in formal or administrative writing, as in différer une réunion ou différer une décision. As a mental or factual distinction, diffèrent expresses divergence or lack of sameness, often with the preposition de, as in cela diffère de ce que l’on avait prévu.

Conjugation and forms: Différer is a regular -er verb, but its two main meanings govern different uses. Present tense forms include je diffère, tu diffères, il diffère, nous différons, vous différez, ils diffèrent. The past participle is différé, used with avoir to form the passé composé (j’ai différé). The present participle is différant. The vous form différez thus serves both the indicative and imperative moods, depending on context.

Usage notes: In practice, choisir between senses depends on context. Être en retard ou reporté se dit avec différer au sens de postponement; parler de différences entre éléments employera différer de ou diffèrent sur, selon ce qui est discuté. Examples: “Nous diffèrons la réunion à demain” (postponement) and “Ces chiffres diffèrent de ceux publiés hier” (to differ from).