original
/əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nəl/ adjective, noun
Forms originals
- adjective (not comparable) Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others. “the original state of mankind; the original laws of a country; the original inventor of a process”
- adjective (not comparable) First in a series of copies or versions. “The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.”
- adjective (not comparable) Newly created. “Tonight we will hear an original work by one of our best composers.”
- adjective (comparable) Fresh, different. “The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception.”
- adjective (not comparable) Pioneering. “Parker was one of the original bebop players.”
- adjective (not comparable) Having a specified place or time as its origin. “This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.”
- adjective (of food) Unseasoned, unflavored, plain, or having a standard or typical flavor; classic, traditional
- noun An object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived. “This manuscript is the original.”
- noun A person with a unique and interesting personality or creative talent.
- noun (archaic) An eccentric person.
- noun A newly designed garment released by a fashion designer as part of a collection.
- noun A ridgeling.
Synonyms
primary initial prototype autograph master master copy archetype pilot
Antonyms
copy derivative remake reproduction ultimate simile unoriginal
Etymology
From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis (“primitive, original”), from Latin orīgō (“beginning, source, origin”), equivalent to origin + -al; see origin.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Pertaining to the origin or beginning; preceding all others; first in order; primitive; primary; pristine; as, the original state of man; the original laws of a country; the original inventor of a process.
- adjective Not copied, imitated, or translated; new; fresh; genuine; as, an original thought; an original process; the original text of Scripture.
- noun Origin; commencement; source.
- noun That which precedes all others of its class; archetype; first copy; hence, an original work of art, manuscript, text, and the like, as distinguished from a copy, translation, etc. The Scriptures may be now read in their own original. Milton.
Etymology [F. original, L. originalis.]
Etymology [Cf. F. original.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “original”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details