ˌderəˈvāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin derivation-, derivatio, from derivatus + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a. historical linguistics
(1) : the formation of a word from an earlier word or base usually by the addition of an affix usually noninflectional (as in rebuild from build or boyish from boy ), functional change (as in picnic, vb., from picnic, n.), or back-formation (as in peddle from peddler )
(2) : an act of ascertaining or stating the derivation of a word
(3) : etymology 1a
b. descriptive linguistics
(1) : the relation of a word to its base as expressed usually in terms of presence of an affix (as in peddler, base peddle, or teaches, base teach ), vowel alternation (as in rode, base ride, or song, base sing ), consonant alternation (as in spent, base spend, or German halb hälp “half”, base halb- hälb), difference of accent (as in convict kənˈvikt, base convict ˈkänˌvikt), absence of one or more sounds (as in French gris grē, masc., “gray”, base grise grēz, fem.), suppletion (as in better, base good ), or zero difference (as in sheep, pl., base sheep, sing.)
(2) : the relation of a word to its base when the two do not belong to the same inflectional paradigm (as in peddler, base peddle, song, base sing, convict kənˈvikt, base convict ˈkänˌvikt)
2. obsolete : a handing on or transmission from a source
3.
a. : the source from which a thing is derived : origin
a style of writing which has long forgotten its derivation — Maurice Edelman
hats of French derivation
b. : origination , descent
distinguished by derivation from royal ancestors
4. obsolete
a. : a drawing off of water from its main channel (as for irrigation)
b. : the drawing of inflammation or fluid out of or away from a diseased part of the body
5. : something that is derived : derivative , deduction
the painting seems more like a copy than a derivation
a belief that proved to be an entirely false derivation
6.
a. : the act or process of deriving from or as if from an original source
the rational derivation of human law from the law of nature — G.H.Sabine
b. : an instance or result of being derived
Martha's Vineyard … was granted by derivation from the crown of England to Thomas Mayhew — L.C.M.Hare
7. : a sequence of statements (as in logic or mathematics) showing that a certain result (as a formula) is a necessary consequence of previously accepted statements