[de.rive] vb de.rived ; de.riv.ing [ME, fr. MF deriver, fr. L derivare, lit., to draw off (water), fr. de- + rivus stream--more at run] vt (14c) 1 a: to take, receive, or obtain esp. from a specified source b: to obtain (a chemical substance) actually or theoretically from a parent substance
2: infer, deduce 3 archaic: bring
4: to trace the derivation of ~ vi: to have or take origin: come as a derivative syn see spring -- de.riv.er n