I. əˈrijən ə l, -jnəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin originale, from Latin originale, adjective, original, neuter of originalis
1. archaic
a. : the source or cause from which something arises
b. : parentage
c. : author , originator
2. archaic : origin 2
3.
a. : a model, pattern, or archetype that is copied
b.
(1) : a primary manuscript from which copies are made
(2) : a direct impression produced by a typewriter especially when made simultaneously with one or more carbon copies
c.
(1) : the person or thing represented in a photograph or an artist's work
(2) : a picture or work of art from which copies are made
4. : a work composed firsthand : an artist's independent or spontaneous product
caught up on their mail or … wrote an original against the rainy season — Budd Schulberg
5.
a. : a person of fresh initiative or inventive capacity : innovator
an original among popular pianists, combining jazz and romantic techniques in an unusually effective manner — Douglas Watt
b. archaic : eccentric 3
6. : a postage stamp from an original issue, as distinguished from a reprint or a reissue
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin originalis, from origin-, origo origin + -alis -al
1.
a. : of or relating to a rise or beginning : existing from the start : initial , primary , pristine
original plans called for many films to be made simultaneously — Cecile Starr
the forests were in large part original — J.M.Mogey
b. : constituting a source, beginning, or first reliance
the original account of the mutiny … as recorded by two of the survivors — F.R.Dulles
2.
a. : taking independent rise : having spontaneous origin : not secondary, derivative, or imitative : fresh , new
gives us, as all good poetry does, an original angle of vision — C.D.Lewis
b. : gifted with powers of independent thought, direct insight, or constructive imagination : creative , fertile , germinal , inventive
esteemed as an original American composer
c. : constituting the product or model from which copies are made
found the original manuscript, of which copies had long been current
Synonyms: see new