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derivation

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.06 sec.
der·i·va·tion  (dr-vshn)
n.
1. The act or process of deriving.
2. The state or fact of being derived; originating: a custom of recent derivation.
3. Something derived; a derivative.
4. The form or source from which something is derived; an origin.
5. The historical origin and development of a word; an etymology.
6. Linguistics
a. The process by which words are formed from existing words or bases by adding affixes, as singer from sing or undo from do, by changing the shape of the word or base, as song from sing, or by adding an affix and changing the pronunciation of the word or base, as electricity from electric.
b. A linguistic description of the process of word formation.
c. In generative linguistics, the process by which a surface structure is generated from a deep structure.
d. A formal representation or description of the series of ordered linguistic rules and operations that generate a surface structure from a deep structure.
7. Logic & Mathematics A logical or mathematical process indicating through a sequence of statements that a result such as a theorem or a formula necessarily follows from the initial assumptions.

deri·vation·al adj.

derivation [ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən]
n
1. the act of deriving or state of being derived
2. (Linguistics) the source, origin, or descent of something, such as a word
3. something derived; a derivative
4. (Mathematics)
a.  the process of deducing a mathematical theorem, formula, etc., as a necessary consequence of a set of accepted statements
b.  this sequence of statements
c.  the operation of finding a derivative
derivational  adj
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.derivation - the source or origin from which something derives (i.e. comes or issues); "he prefers shoes of Italian derivation"; "music of Turkish derivation"
origin, source, root, rootage, beginning - the place where something begins, where it springs into being; "the Italian beginning of the Renaissance"; "Jupiter was the origin of the radiation"; "Pittsburgh is the source of the Ohio River"; "communism's Russian root"
2.derivation - (historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase
diachronic linguistics, diachrony, historical linguistics - the study of linguistic change; "the synchrony and diachrony of language"
explanation, account - a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.; "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief account"
3.derivation - a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows logically from accepted propositions
illation, inference - the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
4.derivation - (descriptive linguistics) the process whereby new words are formed from existing words or bases by affixation; "`singer' from `sing' or `undo' from `do' are examples of derivations"
descriptive linguistics - a description (at a given point in time) of a language with respect to its phonology and morphology and syntax and semantics without value judgments
eponymy - the derivation of a general name from that of a famous person
linguistic process - a process involved in human language
5.derivation - inherited properties shared with others of your bloodline
hereditary pattern, inheritance - (genetics) attributes acquired via biological heredity from the parents
descent, extraction, origin - properties attributable to your ancestry; "he comes from good origins"
bloodline, pedigree - ancestry of a purebred animal
6.derivation - drawing of fluid or inflammation away from a diseased part of the body
drawing off, drawing - act of getting or draining something such as electricity or a liquid from a source; "the drawing of water from the well"
7.derivation - drawing off water from its main channel as for irrigation
drawing off, drawing - act of getting or draining something such as electricity or a liquid from a source; "the drawing of water from the well"
8.derivation - the act of deriving something or obtaining something from a source or origin
human action, human activity, act, deed - something that people do or cause to happen

derivation
noun origin, source, basis, beginning, root, foundation, descent, ancestry, genealogy, etymology The derivation of its name is obscure.
Translations
derivation [ˌderɪˈveɪʃən] N [of word] → derivación f
derivation [ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən] n [word] → dérivation f
derivation
nAbleitung f; (Chem) → Derivation f; this text has its derivation from Kafka’s novelsdieser Text basiert auf Kafkas Romanen; whatever the true derivation of this story may bewoher diese Geschichte auch immer ursprünglich stammt
derivation [ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃn] nderivazione f


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The term is merely one of foreign derivation, meaning a clever fellow, or, in more literary and elegant language, a gentleman with whom one must reckon.
This word critic is of Greek derivation, and signifies judgment.
Touching the derivation of the name Vondervotteimittiss, I confess myself, with sorrow, equally at fault.
 
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