different

dif•fer•ent

[[t]ˈdɪf ər ənt, ˈdɪf rənt[/t]] adj.

1) not alike in character or quality; differing; dissimilar

2) not identical; separate or distinct:

three different answers[/ex]

3) various; several:

Different people told me the same story[/ex]

4) not ordinary; unusual

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Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < AF < L dif′fer•ent•ly, adv. dif′fer•ent•ness, n. syn: See various usage: Although it is frequently claimed that different should be followed only by from, not by than, in actual usage both words have occurred for at least 300 years and are standard in all varieties of spoken and written American English. From is more common today in introducing a phrase, but than is also used: New York speech is different from (or than) that of Chicago. Than is usually used to introduce a clause: The stream followed a different course than the map showed. In sentences of this type, when from is used instead of than, more words are necessary: a different course from the one the map showed. In British English to frequently follows different: The early sketches are very different to the later ones. different in the sense “unusual” is well established in all but the most formal American English: The décor in this theater is really different.