origin

n. [ F. origine, L. origo, -iginis, fr. oriri to rise, become visible; akin to Gr. 'orny`nai to stir up, rouse, Skr. &rsdot_;, and perh. to E. run. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The first existence or beginning of anything; the birth. [ 1913 Webster ]

This mixed system of opinion and sentiment had its origin in the ancient chivalry. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That from which anything primarily proceeds; the fountain; the spring; the cause; the occasion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Anat.) The point of attachment or end of a muscle which is fixed during contraction; -- in contradistinction to insertion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Origin of coordinate axes (Math.), the point where the axes intersect. See Note under Ordinate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Commencement; rise; source; spring; fountain; derivation; cause; root; foundation. -- Origin, Source. Origin denotes the rise or commencement of a thing; source presents itself under the image of a fountain flowing forth in a continuous stream of influences. The origin of moral evil has been much disputed, but no one can doubt that it is the source of most of the calamities of our race. [ 1913 Webster ]

I think he would have set out just as he did, with the origin of ideas -- the proper starting point of a grammarian, who is to treat of their signs. Tooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Famous Greece,
That source of art and cultivated thought
Which they to Rome, and Romans hither, brought. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being originated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. original. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Origin; commencement; source. [ 1913 Webster ]

It hath it original from much grief. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which precedes all others of its class; archetype; first copy; hence, an original work of art, manuscript, text, and the like, as distinguished from a copy, translation, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Scriptures may be now read in their own original. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An original thinker or writer; an originator. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Men who are bad at copying, yet are good originals. C. G. Leland. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A person of marked eccentricity. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool. & Bot.) The natural or wild species from which a domesticated or cultivated variety has been derived; as, the wolf is thought by some to be the original of the dog, the blackthorn the original of the plum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. original, L. originalis. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Pertaining to the origin or beginning; preceding all others; first in order; primitive; primary; pristine; as, the original state of man; the original laws of a country; the original inventor of a process. [ 1913 Webster ]

His form had yet not lost
All her original brightness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not copied, imitated, or translated; new; fresh; genuine; as, an original thought; an original process; the original text of Scripture. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having the power to suggest new thoughts or combinations of thought; inventive; as, an original genius. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Before unused or unknown; new; as, a book full of original matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Original sin (Theol.), the first sin of Adam, as related to its consequences to his descendants of the human race; -- called also total depravity. See Calvinism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is original. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. originalité. ] 1. The quality or state of being original. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ability to create new and original ideas, works of art, theories, etc.; ability to express oneself in an original manner; creativity; -- of people. [ PJC ]

adv. 1. In the original time, or in an original manner; primarily; from the beginning or origin; not by derivation, or imitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

God is originally holy in himself. Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. At first; at the origin; at the time of formation or costruction; as, a book originally written by another hand. “Originally a half length [ portrait ].” Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being original; originality. [ R. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Originating; original. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

An absolutely originant act of self will. Prof. Shedd. [ 1913 Webster ]