original

English

Etymology

From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis (“primitive, original”), from Latin orīgō (“beginning, source, origin”); see origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈɹɪdʒɪnəl/, /əˈɹɪdʒənəl/, /əˈɹɪdʒnəl/
• Hyphenation: ori‧gi‧nal, orig‧inal, orig‧i‧nal

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

original (comparative more original, superlative most original)

1. (not comparable) Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others.

   the original state of mankind;  the original laws of a country;  the original inventor of a process

   • 1944, Miles Burton, chapter 5, in The Three Corpse Trick‎^[1], →ISBN, OCLC 3289313, OL 10563347W:

     The hovel stood in the centre of what had once been a vegetable garden, but was now a patch of rank weeds. Surrounding this, almost like a zareba, was an irregular ring of gorse and brambles, an unclaimed vestige of the original common.

2. (not comparable) First in a series of copies or versions.

   The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.

   This recording is by the original broadway cast.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess‎^[2], →ISBN, OL 2004261W:

     The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, […].

   Synonym: initial

   • First definition

     Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest. (1 of 3 first definitions)

   • Initial definition

     Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin. (1 of 2 initial definitions)
3. (not comparable) Newly created.

   Tonight we will hear an original work by one of our best composers.

4. (comparable) Fresh, different.

   The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception.

   • Fresh definition

     Newly produced or obtained; recent. (1 of 10 fresh definitions)

   • Different definition

     Not the same; exhibiting a difference. (1 of 4 different definitions)
5. (not comparable) Pioneering.

   Parker was one of the original bebop players.

   • Pioneering definition

     present participle of pioneer
6. (not comparable) Having a specified place or time as its origin.

   This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.

Synonyms

• autograph
• prototype

Antonyms

• (first in a series):
  • copy, reproduction, simile (imitation)
  • derivative (branch)
  • ultimate (last, extreme)

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

original (plural originals)

1. An object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived.

   Synonym: prototype

   Hyponym: autograph

   Antonyms: copy, derivative, remake, reproduction, ultimate

   This manuscript is the original.

   • Object definition

     A thing that has physical existence. (1 of 9 object definitions)

   • Creation definition

     Something created such as an invention or artwork. (1 of 3 creation definitions)

   • Work definition

     Employment.

     1. Labour, occupation, job. (1 of 19 work definitions)

   • Copies definition

     plural of copy

   • Derive definition

     To obtain or receive (something) from something else. (1 of 6 derive definitions)

   • Prototype definition

     An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects (particularly manufactured items), or for its generalizations and models. (1 of 5 prototype definitions)

   • Autograph definition

     A person’s own handwriting, especially the signature of a famous or admired person. (1 of 2 autograph definitions)

   • Copy definition

     The result of copying; an identical duplicate of an original. (1 of 13 copy definitions)

   • Derivative definition

     Obtained by derivation; not radical, original, or fundamental. (1 of 5 derivative definitions)

   • Remake definition

     To make again. (1 of 2 remake definitions)

   • Reproduction definition

     The act of reproducing new individuals biologically. (1 of 4 reproduction definitions)

   • Ultimate definition

     Final; last in a series. (1 of 7 ultimate definitions)
2. A person with a unique and interesting personality or creative talent.
   • 1700, Tom Brown, Amusements Serious and Comical, calculated for the Meridian of London, page 5:

     I have a great mind to be in Print; but above all, I would fain be an Original, and that is a true Comical Thought: When all the Learned Men in the World are but Tranſlators, is it not a Pleaſant Jeſt, that you ſhould ſtrive to be an Original! You ſhould have obſerved your Time, and have come into the World with the Ancient Greeks for that purpoſe; for the Latines themſelves are but Copies.

   • 1975, The Educational Trends (volumes 10-14, page 59)

     Ahmad (1969) studied the personality differences among middle school girls identified as originals and unoriginals on the Minnesota's test of creative thinking.

   • 2010, A. Kusuma, Creativity and Cognitive Styles in Children (page 73)

     The originals or the creatives were more dominant than the unoriginals or the low creatives.

3. (archaic) An eccentric person.
   • 1899 Feb, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, page 201:

     ‘Are you an alienist?’ I interrupted. ‘Every doctor should be - a little,’ answered that original, imperturbably.

   • Eccentric definition

     Not at or in the centre; away from the centre. (1 of 6 eccentric definitions)
4. A newly designed garment released by a fashion designer as part of a collection.
   • 1962, "It's Fashion fair time again", in Ebony (volume 17, number 11, page 126)

     Fashion Fair will give every section first hand knowledge of the latest originals and 1962-63's exciting trends.

   • 1963, National Retail Merchants Association. Sales Promotion Division, The NRMA Sales Promotion Encyclopedia, Vol. II. (page 175)

     One such show was built around the Du Pont spring collection of Paris originals.

   • Garment definition

     A single item of clothing. (1 of 3 garment definitions)

   • Fashion Designer definition

     Someone who designs clothing professionally.

   • Collection definition

     A set of items or amount of material procured or gathered together. (1 of 10 collection definitions)
5. A ridgeling.

   • Ridgeling definition

     male animal with at least one testicle still in the intestinal canal (1 of 2 ridgeling definitions)

Translations

Further reading

• original in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• original in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

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Catalan

Etymology

From Latin orīginālis, attested from the 14th century.^[1]

Pronunciation

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /o.ɾi.ʒiˈnal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /u.ɾi.ʒiˈnal/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /o.ɾi.d͡ʒiˈnal/

Adjective

original (masculine and feminine plural originals)

1. original

   • Original definition

     Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others. (1 of 6 original definitions)

Derived terms

• originalitat
• originalment

Related terms

• origen

References

Further reading

• “original” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “original” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “original” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

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Danish

Adjective

original (neuter originalt, plural and definite singular attributive originale)

1. original

Noun

original c (singular definite originalen, plural indefinite originaler)

1. an original

Declension

Further reading

• “original” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “original” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog

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French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin orīginālis. Doublet of originel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ.ʁi.ʒi.nal/

• Audio

  (file)

• Homophones: originale, originales

Adjective

original (feminine originale, masculine plural originaux, feminine plural originales)

1. original

   Antonyms: banal, copié, reproduit, vulgaire

   • Banal definition

     Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh. (1 of 2 banal definitions)

   • Copié definition

     first-person singular indefinite preterite indicative of copiar

   • Reproduit definition

     past participle of reproduire

   • Vulgaire definition

     inflected form of vulgair

Related terms

Noun

original m (plural originaux)

1. an unusual or eccentric person

   • Unusual definition

     Not usual, out of the ordinary
2. an original manuscript

   Synonym: autographe

   • Manuscript definition

     handwritten, or by extension manually typewritten, as opposed to being mechanically reproduced.

   • Autographe definition

     autograph

Further reading

• “original”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

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German

Etymology

Borrowed from French original, from Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis (“primitive, original”), from Latin orīgō (“beginning, source, origin”). Doublet of originell.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oʁiɡiˈnaːl/
• Rhymes: -aːl

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

original (strong nominative masculine singular originaler, comparative originaler, superlative am originalsten)

1. original

Declension

Related terms

Adverb

original

1. (colloquial, intensifier) really, actually

   Synonyms: echt, wirklich

   • 1997, Alexa Hennig von Lange, chapter 1, in Relax‎^[3]:

     Wo ist jetzt diese verdammte Schachtel? Hier finde ich original nichts wieder.

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

   • Really definition

     In a way or manner that is real, not unreal. (1 of 3 really definitions)

   • Actually definition

     In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively. (1 of 4 actually definitions)

   • Echt definition

     proper, real, genuine, true to type

   • Wirklich definition

     real

Further reading

• “original” in Duden online
• “original” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

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Middle English

Alternative forms

• oryginall, origynall, orygynal, orygynall, origynal, oryginal, oregynall, originalle, originall

Etymology

From Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis; equivalent to origyne +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔriɡiˈnaːl/, /ɔriɡiˈnal/, /ɔriːɡiˈnal/

Adjective

original (plural and weak singular originale)

1. original, primordial; preceding everything else

   • Primordial definition

     first, earliest or original (1 of 3 primordial definitions)
2. connected to the origin or beginning of something

   • Beginning definition

     The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states. (1 of 4 beginning definitions)

   • Something definition

     An uncertain or unspecified thing; one thing. (1 of 4 something definitions)

Derived terms

• originali

Descendants

• English: original
• Scots: original, oreeginal

References

• “orī̆ǧinā̆l(e, adj.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-26.

Noun

original (plural originals) (Late Middle English)

1. the origin, lineage, or provenance of something

   • Origin definition

     The beginning of something. (1 of 6 origin definitions)

   • Lineage definition

     Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage. (1 of 3 lineage definitions)

   • Provenance definition

     Place or source of origin. (1 of 6 provenance definitions)
2. the authoritative, authorial, or primordial version of a work or source

   • Authoritative definition

     Arising or originating from a figure of authority (1 of 3 authoritative definitions)

   • Authorial definition

     Of, coming from, or typical of an author (especially of books).
3. (rare) something that isn't living or artificial; a primordial element

   • Living definition

     present participle of live

   • Artificial definition

     Man-made; made by humans; of artifice. (1 of 4 artificial definitions)
4. (rare) a reason, factor, or generator of something

   • Reason definition

     A cause:

     1. That which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause. (1 of 8 reason definitions)

   • Factor definition

     A doer, maker; a person who does things for another person or organization. (1 of 12 factor definitions)

   • Generator definition

     One who, or that which, generates, begets, causes, or produces.

     1. An apparatus in which vapour or gas is formed from a liquid or solid by means of heat or chemical process, as a steam boiler, gas retort etc.
     2. The principal sound or sounds by which others are produced; the fundamental note or root of the common chord; -- see also generating tone.
     3. An element of a group that is used in the presentation of the group: one of the elements from which the others can be inferred with the given relators.
     4. One of the lines of a ruled surface; more generally, an element of some family of linear spaces.
     5. A subordinate piece of code which, given some initial parameters, will generate multiple output values on request.

     (1 of 8 generator definitions)
5. (rare) the root or etymological ancestor of a word

   • Root definition

     (1 of 20 root definitions)

   • Etymological definition

     Of or relating to etymology. (1 of 2 etymological definitions)
6. (rare, religion) the making of the universe

   • Religion definition

     Belief in a spiritual or metaphysical reality (often including at least one deity), accompanied by practices or rituals pertaining to the belief. (1 of 6 religion definitions)
7. (rare, law) a legal document beginning legal action

   • Law definition

     The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities. (1 of 20 law definitions)

Derived terms

• originali

Descendants

• English: original
• Scots: original, oreeginal

References

• “orī̆ǧinā̆l(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-26.

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Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin orīginālis; the noun being derived from the adjective.

Adjective

original (neuter singular originalt, definite singular and plural originale)

1. original

Noun

original m (definite singular originalen, indefinite plural originaler, definite plural originalene)

1. an original

References

• “original” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

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Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin orīginālis; the noun being derived from the adjective.

Adjective

original (neuter singular originalt, definite singular and plural originale)

1. original

Noun

original m (definite singular originalen, indefinite plural originalar, definite plural originalane)

1. an original

References

• “original” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

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Occitan

Etymology

From Latin orīginālis.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Languedocien)

  (file)

Adjective

original m (feminine singular originala, masculine plural originals, feminine plural originalas)

1. original

Derived terms

• originalitat
• originalament

Related terms

• origina

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Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin orīginālis.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: o‧ri‧gi‧nal

Adjective

original m or f (plural originais, comparable)

1. original (relating to the origin or beginning)
2. original (being the first in a series)
3. original (different; unique)

Derived terms

• originalidade
• originalmente

Related terms

• origem

Further reading

• “original” in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa.
• “original” in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa.

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Romanian

Etymology

From Latin originalis or French original.

Adjective

original m or n (feminine singular originală, masculine plural originali, feminine and neuter plural originale)

1. original

Declension

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Serbo-Croatian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oriɡǐnaːl/
• Hyphenation: o‧ri‧gi‧nal

Noun

origìnāl m (Cyrillic spelling оригѝна̄л)

1. original

   Antonym: falsifikat

   • Falsifikat definition

     forgery, counterfeit (object)

Declension

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Spanish

Etymology

From Latin orīginālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oɾixiˈnal/, [o.ɾi.xiˈnal]
• Hyphenation: o‧ri‧gi‧nal

Adjective

original (plural originales)

1. original

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

• “original”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

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Swedish

Noun

original n

1. an original

Declension

Declension of original
	Singular		Plural
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Nominative	original	originalet	original	originalen
Genitive	originals	originalets	originals	originalens

Related terms

References

• original in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)