originate

[uh-rij-uh-neyt]

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verb (used without object), o·rig·i·nat·ed, o·rig·i·nat·ing.

to take its origin or rise; begin; start; arise: The practice originated during the Middle Ages.

(of a train, bus, or other public conveyance) to begin a scheduled run at a specified place: This train originates at Philadelphia.

verb (used with object), o·rig·i·nat·ed, o·rig·i·nat·ing.

to give origin or rise to; initiate; invent: to originate a better method.

Nearby words

Origin of originate

1645–55; probably back formation from origination (< F) < Latin orīginātiō etymology; see origin, -ate¹, ion

SYNONYMS FOR originate

3. See discover.

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Related forms

o·rig·i·na·ble

[uh-rij-uh-nuh-buh l] /əˈrɪdʒ ə nə bəl/, adjectiveo·rig·i·na·tion, nouno·rig·i·na·tor, nounself-o·rig·i·nat·ed, adjective

self-o·rig·i·nat·ing, adjectiveself-o·rig·i·na·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for originator

“Elizabeth Warren is the originator,” he said of the comment that energized Republicans in the 2012 race.
How Will Cuba Play In Peoria?|Eleanor Clift|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Barghouti, its originator and primary spokesman, is not shy about pointing this out.
Brooklyn College And The BDS Debate|Eric Alterman|February 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Jim had been one of the promoters of the “super-predator” theory, though he was not its originator.
James Q. Wilson Greatest Strength, Admitting When He Was Wrong|David Frum|March 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Tricia Romano talks to Margaret Cho and “It Gets Better” originator Dan Savage to try to figure it out.
Can Gay Jokes Be Funny (Anymore)?|Tricia Romano|October 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST

In the Crow's Nest the sudden coup of the strikers had the effect which its originator had doubtless counted upon.
The Taming of Red Butte Western|Francis Lynde
It is, however, as the originator of a variety of paradoxical theories that Hardouin is now best remembered.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8|Various
He was the originator of the daily political paper, the Algemeine Zeitung, so extensively circulated in Europe.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The difficulty was solved presently by events of which I was not the originator.
The Betrayal of John Fordham|B.L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
One of us had to be the originator and the other the reflection, but now it was reversed.
The Man Who Staked the Stars|Charles Dye

British Dictionary definitions for originator

originate

verb

to come or bring into being

(intr) US and Canadian (of a bus, train, etc) to begin its journey at a specified point

Derived Formsorigination, nounoriginator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for originator

originator

1818, agent noun in Latin form from originate.

originate

1650s, probably a back-formation of origination. In earliest reference it meant "to trace the origin of;" meaning "to bring into existence" is from 1650s; intransitive sense of "to come into existence" is from 1775. Related: Originated; originating.

Medicine definitions for originator

originate

[ə-rĭj′ə-nāt′]

v.

To bring into being; create.

To come into being; start.

originate

verb (used without object), o·rig·i·nat·ed, o·rig·i·nat·ing.

verb (used with object), o·rig·i·nat·ed, o·rig·i·nat·ing.

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Origin of originate

Examples from the Web for originator

originate

verb

originator

originate

originate

v.