Original definitions

ə-rĭj'ə-nəl
Having to do with an origin; first; earliest.
adjective
94
4
Never having occurred or existed before; fresh; new; novel.
adjective
89
4
Capable of or given to inventing or creating something new, or thinking or acting in an independent, individual, fresh way.
adjective
85
4
Coming from someone as the originator, maker, author, etc.
adjective
82
4
Being that from which reproductions, copies, etc. have been made.
adjective
78
4
A pristine form or primary type that has given rise to varieties.
noun
74
3
An original work, as of art or literature, as distinguished from a reproduction, copy, etc.
noun
71
3
The person or thing represented in a painting or the like.
noun
67
3
An originator.
noun
64
4
Preceding all others in time; first.

Who played the original Dracula?

adjective
53
3
Productive of new things or new ideas; inventive.

An original mind.

adjective
49
3
Being the source from which a copy, reproduction, or translation is made.
adjective
46
3
A first form or model from which others are made or developed.

Later versions of the car retained key features of the original.

noun
43
2
The source from which something arises; an originator.
noun
40
1
(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
10
0
(not comparable) Pioneering.

Parker was one of the original bebop players.

adjective
10
0
10
1
(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.

adjective
7
0
(not comparable) Having as its origin.

This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.

adjective
7
0
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.

noun
6
1
(not comparable) Newly created.

Tonight we will hear an original work by one of our best composers.

adjective
4
0
An object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived.

This manuscript is the original.

noun
4
0
(comparable) Fresh, different.

The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception.

adjective
1
0
1
0
A person with a unique and interesting personality and/or creative talent.

You're an original.

noun
1
0
(archaic) An eccentric.
noun
0
0

Origin of original

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