Reference meaning
derivation
Last updated
the source or origin from which something derives (i.e. comes or issues)
Other meanings
2. noun
(historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase
3. noun
a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows logically from accepted propositions
4. noun
(descriptive linguistics) the process whereby new words are formed from existing words or bases by affixation
Source and scope
This definition is reproduced from Princeton WordNet 3.0, sense 08508105-n, under the WordNet 3.0 License. It has not yet received VocabularyBase editorial review. Read the source and license details.