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origin

or·i·gin [ áwrəjin ] (plural or·i·gins)

noun

Definition:

1. source: the thing from which something develops, or the place where it comes from ( often used in the plural )

the origins of the universe

The expression has an uncertain origin.

customs that are French in origin

2. ancestry: the ethnic group, social class, or country that somebody belongs to or that somebody's family comes from ( often used in the plural )

a great family whose origins stretch back to the Middle Ages

3. anatomy root of muscle: the place where a muscle is attached

4. anatomy root of nerve or blood vessel: the root of a nerve or blood vessel

5. mathematics intersection of axes: the point of intersection of all axes in a coordinate system. In a plane it has the coordinates (0,0), while in a three-dimensional space it has the coordinates (0,0,0).

[Mid-16th century. Directly or via French< Latin origin-< oriri "arise"]

Cultural Note


	On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, a treatise (1859) by British scientist Charles Darwin. A highly controversial work, it challenged the established belief in the divine creation of life on Earth. Darwin put forward the theory that species evolved slowly in the struggle for existence: those best adapted to life in a particular environment would survive and reproduce by natural selection.

Word Key: Synonyms


	origin, source, derivation, provenance, root CORE MEANING: the beginning of something origin the thing from which something develops, or the place where something or somebody comes from; Some of the concepts used now have their origins in the 19th century. Researchers from overseas often decide not to return to their country of origin. source the place, person, or thing through which something has come into being or from which it has been obtained; It is important to trace the source of your error. Inscriptions within mosaics provide a rich source of information. derivation the origin or source of something such as a word or somebody's name; The Latin word "regula," meaning "straight stick" is the derivation of the word "rule." provenance the place of origin of something, especially a work of art or archaeological artifact; an orange rug of Iranian provenance Some experts have questioned the provenance and even genuineness of many of the museum's exhibits. root the fundamental cause, basis, or essence of something, or the source from which something derives; Various factors appear to be at the root of the inner city problem. Lack of communication is the root of a wide range of problems.