original

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. [ 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 ]

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 ]