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Webster 1913 Edition


Derive

De-rive′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Derived
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Deriving
.]
[F.
dériver
, L.
derivare
;
de-
+
rivus
stream, brook. See
Rival
.]
1.
To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; – followed by to, into, on, upon.
[Obs.]
For fear it [water] choke up the pits . . . they [the workman]
derive
it by other drains.
Holland.
Her due loves
derived
to that vile witch’s share.
Spenser.
Derived
to us by tradition from Adam to Noah.
Jer. Taylor.
2.
To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; – followed by from.
3.
To trace the origin, descent, or derivation of; to recognize transmission of;
as, he
derives
this word from the Anglo-Saxon
.
From these two causes . . . an ancient set of physicians
derived
all diseases.
Arbuthnot.
Syn. – To trace; deduce; infer.

De-rive′

,
Verb.
I.
To flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be deduced.
Shak.
Power from heaven
Derives
, and monarchs rule by gods appointed.
Prior.

Webster 1828 Edition


Derive

DERIVE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. A stream.]
1.
To draw from, as in a regular course or channel; to receive from a source by a regular conveyance. The heir derives an estate from his ancestors. We derive from Adam mortal bodies and natures prone to sin.
2.
To draw or receive, as from a source or origin. We derive ideas from the senses, and instruction from good books.
3.
To deduce or draw, as from a root, or primitive word. A hundred words are often derived from a single monosyllabic root, and sometimes a much greater number.
4.
To turn from its natural course; to divert; as, to derive water from the main channel or current into lateral rivulets.
5.
To communicate from one to another by descent.
An excellent disposition is derived to your lordship from your parents.
6.
To spread in various directions; to cause to flow.
The streams of justice were derived into every part of the kingdom.

DERIVE

,
Verb.
I.
To come or proceed from.
Power from heaven derives.

Definition 2024


derive

derive

See also: derivé, dérivé, and dérive

English

Verb

derive (third-person singular simple present derives, present participle deriving, simple past and past participle derived) (Can we add an example for this sense?)

  1. (transitive) To obtain or receive (something) from something else.
    • 2013 July-August, Sarah Glaz, Ode to Prime Numbers”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
      Some poems, echoing the purpose of early poetic treatises on scientific principles, attempt to elucidate the mathematical concepts that underlie prime numbers. Others play with primes’ cultural associations. Still others derive their structure from mathematical patterns involving primes.
  2. (transitive, logic) To deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning.
  3. (transitive, linguistics) To find the derivation of (a word or phrase).
  4. (transitive, chemistry) To create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction.
  5. (intransitive) To originate or stem (from).
    • 2012 January 1, Robert M. Pringle, How to Be Manipulative”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 31:
      As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.
  6. To turn the course of (water, etc.); to divert and distribute into subordinate channels.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Holland
      For fear it [water] choke up the pits [] they [the workman] derive it by other drains.

Related terms

Translations

External links

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

Anagrams


Asturian

Verb

derive

  1. first-person singular present subjunctive of derivar
  2. third-person singular present subjunctive of derivar

Italian

Noun

derive f pl

  1. plural of deriva

Anagrams


Portuguese

Verb

derive

  1. first-person singular present subjunctive of derivar
  2. third-person singular present subjunctive of derivar
  3. first-person singular imperative of derivar
  4. third-person singular imperative of derivar

Spanish

Verb

derive

  1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of derivar.
  2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of derivar.
  3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of derivar.
  4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of derivar.