original

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not derived or copied or translated from something else

   the play is original

2. 2
   adj

   preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

   the original inhabitants of the Americas

3. 3
   adj

   not secondhand or by way of something intermediary, such as information

   Their work is based on only original, not secondary, sources.

4. 4
   noun

   something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies

   this painting is a copy of the original

5. 5
   adj

   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

6. 6
   adj

   First in a series of copies or versions.

   The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.

7. 7
   adj

   Newly created.

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

8. 8
   adj

   Fresh, different.

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

Etymology

From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis (“primitive, original”), from Latin orīgō (“beginning, source, origin”); see origin.