original

o·rig·i·nal

Use original in a sentence

noun

The definition of an original is the earliest form of something, or something different and unique.

The very first iPod ever created is an example of the original iPod.
A painting actually painted by Van Gogh, as opposed to a copy or reprint, is an example of an original Van Gogh.
A person who doesn't follow the crowd but who instead does his own thing is an example of someone who is original.

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"original." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ORIGINAL>.

APA Style

original. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ORIGINAL

original

having to do with an origin; first; earliest
never having occurred or existed before; fresh; new; novel
capable of or given to inventing or creating something new, or thinking or acting in an independent, individual, fresh way
coming from someone as the originator, maker, author, etc.
being that from which reproductions, copies, etc. have been made

Origin of original

Old French from Classical Latin originalis

a pristine form or primary type that has given rise to varieties
an original work, as of art or literature, as distinguished from a reproduction, copy, etc.
the person or thing represented in a painting or the like
1. a person with an original and creative mind
2. an eccentric person
Archaic an originator

Origin of original

Fr < the adj.

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MLA Style

"original." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ORIGINAL>.

APA Style

original. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ORIGINAL

original

adjective

Preceding all others in time; first: Who played the original Dracula?
a. Not derived from something else; fresh and unusual: an original play, not an adaptation.
b. Showing a marked departure from previous practice; new: a truly original approach. See Synonyms at new.
Productive of new things or new ideas; inventive: an original mind.
Being the source from which a copy, reproduction, or translation is made.

noun

A first form or model from which others are made or developed: Later versions of the car retained key features of the original.
a. An authentic work of art: bought an original, not a print.
b. A work that has been composed firsthand or used to make a copy, reproduction, or translation: kept the original but sent a photocopy to his publisher.
a. A person with a creative or unusual personality.
b. A person who is appealingly odd or curious; a character.
Archaic The source from which something arises; an originator.

Origin of original

Middle English from Old French from Latin orīginālis from orīgō orīgin- source ; see origin .

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"original." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ORIGINAL>.

APA Style

original. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ORIGINAL

Adjective

(comparative more original, superlative most original)

(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
(not comparable) First in a series or copies/versions.
The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.
This recording is by the original broadway cast.
(not comparable) Newly created.
Tonight we will hear an original work by one of our best composers.
(comparable) Fresh, different.
The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception.
(not comparable) Pioneering.
Parker was one of the original bebop players.
(not comparable) Having as its origin.
This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.

Noun

(plural originals)

An object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived
This manuscript is the original
A person with a unique and interesting personality and/or creative talent
You're an original
(archaic) An eccentric

Origin

From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin originalis (“primitive, original"), from Latin origo (“beginning, source, origin"); see origin.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.