v. 1 tr. (usu. foll. by from) get, obtain, or form (derived satisfaction from work). 2 intr. (foll. by from) arise from, originate in, be descended or obtained from (happiness derives from many things). 3 tr. gather or deduce (derived the information from the clues). 4 tr. a trace the descent of (a person). b show the origin of (a thing). 5 tr. (usu. foll. by from) show or state the origin or formation of (a word etc.) (derived the word from Latin). 6 tr. Math. obtain (a function) by differentiation. derivable adj.
[ ME f. OF deriver or f. L derivare (as DE-, rivus stream) ]