original means relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others. It carries an Arena rating of 1644, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, original ranks #2,351 of 14,308 for Most Malleable Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,100 of 14,440 for Most Satisfying to Say, #7,152 of 14,445 for Most Beautiful Words.
original is pronounced /əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nəl/.
Why “original” is a great word
Being the first of its kind, from which copies or later forms are derived. From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis ("primitive, original"), from Latin orīgō ("beginning, source, origin"). Unlike a "prototype," which is a test model for a future series, or a "derivative," which is born from another's substance, the original stands alone as the singular point of departure. It is the painter's thumbprint in the wet pigment, the unedited negative in the darkroom, and the clean, untouched page before the first mark of ink—the silent, solitary authority against which all that follows is measured and found to be an echo.
Etymology
From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis (“primitive, original”), from Latin orīgō (“beginning, source, origin”); see origin.
adj
- Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others.e.g.“the original state of mankind; the original laws of a country; the original inventor of a process”
- First in a series of copies or versions.e.g.“The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.”
- Newly created.e.g.“Tonight we will hear an original work by one of our best composers.”
- Fresh, different.e.g.“The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception.”
- Pioneering.e.g.“Parker was one of the original bebop players.”
- Having a specified place or time as its origin.e.g.“This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.”
- 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.e.g.“This manuscript is the original.”
- A person with a unique and interesting personality or creative talent.
- An eccentric person.e.g.“‘Are you an alienist?’ I interrupted. ‘Every doctor should be - a little,’ answered that original, imperturbably.”
- A newly designed garment released by a fashion designer as part of a collection.e.g.“Fashion Fair will give every section first hand knowledge of the latest originals and 1962-63's exciting trends.”
- A ridgeling.
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