differentia Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun distinguishing characteristics (especially in different species of a genus)

WordNet

Dif`fer*en"ti*a noun
Etymology
L. See Difference.
Wordforms
plural Differentiæ
Definitions
  1. (Logic) The formal or distinguishing part of the essence of a species; the characteristic attribute of a species; specific difference.

Webster 1913