original meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

original

adj

AU, CA, US, UK /əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nəl/ · /ɒˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nəl/

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.

7 senses

1Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others.
2First in a series of copies or versions.
3Newly created.
4Fresh, different.
5Pioneering.
6Having a specified place or time as its origin.
7Unseasoned, unflavored, plain, or having a standard or…

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
The hovel stood in the centre of what had once been a vegetable garden, but was now a patch of rank weeds. Surrounding this, almost like a zareba, was an irregular ring of gorse and brambles, an unclaimed vestige of the original common.1944, Miles Burton, chapter 5, in The Three Corpse Trick, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL:

First in a series of copies or versions.

The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.
This recording is by the original broadway cast.

1 more example

The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway,[…].1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

Newly created.

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

Fresh, different.

The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception.
Devoid of context, the image is intriguing, promising something utterly original and deeply fucked up.2017 February 23, Katie Rife, “The Girl With All The Gifts tries to put a fresh spin on overripe zombie clichés”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 18 Aug 2017:

Pioneering.

Parker was one of the original bebop players.

Having a specified place or time as its origin.

This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.

Of food Unseasoned, unflavored, plain, or having a standard or typical flavor; classic, traditional

Derived terms: book of original entry, co-original, in the original German, nonoriginal, original antigenic sin, original aspect ratio, original as sin, original character, original depravity, original fic, originalism, originalist, originalistic, original jurisdiction, originally, originalness, original package doctrine, Original Pilipino Music, original righteousness, original sin, series original, unoriginal
Related terms: aboriginal, origin, originality, originate, originative

original

noun

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

This manuscript is the original.
Promontory's "last spike" ceremony was so significant to the USA's history that it is still regularly re-enacted today, using replica locomotives that nose up to each other just as the originals did.2025 November 12, Tony Streeter, “All around the world”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 42:

A person with a unique and interesting personality or creative talent.

I have a great mind to be in Print; but above all, I would fain be an Original, and that is a true Comical Thought: When all the Learned Men in the World are but Tranſlators, is it not a Pleaſant Jeſt, that you ſhould ſtrive to be an Original! You ſhould have obſerved your Time, and have come into the World with the Ancient Greeks for that purpoſe; for the Latines themſelves are but Copies.1700, Tom Brown, Amusements Serious and Comical, calculated for the Meridian of London, page 5:
Ahmad (1969) studied the personality differences among middle school girls identified as originals and unoriginals on the Minnesota's test of creative thinking.1975, The Educational Trends, volumes 10-14, page 59:

1 more example

The originals or the creatives were more dominant than the unoriginals or the low creatives.2010, A. Kusuma, Creativity and Cognitive Styles in Children, page 73:

Archaic An eccentric person.

‘Are you an alienist?’ I interrupted. ‘Every doctor should be - a little,’ answered that original, imperturbably.1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 201:

A newly designed garment released by a fashion designer as part of a collection.

Fashion Fair will give every section first hand knowledge of the latest originals and 1962-63's exciting trends.1962, “It's Fashion fair time again”, in Ebony, volume 17, number 11, page 126:
One such show was built around the Du Pont spring collection of Paris originals.1963, National Retail Merchants Association. Sales Promotion Division, The NRMA Sales Promotion Encyclopedia, Vol. II., page 175:

A ridgeling.

Synonyms: autograph, prototype
Antonyms: copy, reproduction, simile, derivative, ultimate