Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun literary theory, linguistics The endless deferral of any ultimate meaning in a word or sentence, owing to the necessity of recourse to a potentially infinite series of other, equally uncertain words or signs.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
From French différance ‘deferral’ (coined in this sense by Derrida), from différer ‘to postpone’; but punning on différence ‘difference’.
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Examples
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juv3nal commented on the word différance
Possibly the most pretentious word ever if used in conversation because it's pronounced exactly the same as difference and, well, just you try and explain it without coming across as a total goober.
January 6, 2008
seanahan commented on the word différance
What does it mean?
January 6, 2008
juv3nal commented on the word différance
I'm not falling for that.
I'll let wikipedia look like a goober for me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diff%C3%A9rance
January 8, 2008
seanahan commented on the word différance
I got as far as "Différance is a French neologism coined by Jacques Derrida and homophonous with the word différence." and decided to stop.
January 8, 2008