derivation
n. C / Un. the origin or source of something, such as where a word comes from or how a mathematical result is reached. It describes the process of getting one thing from another.
n. the process of obtaining something from a source or origin; in linguistics, the formation of a word from another word or root. Often refers to the tracing of a lineage or the logical steps taken to reach a conclusion.
The derivation of the word 'telephone' is from Greek.
The professor spent the entire lecture explaining the mathematical derivation of the formula from first principles.
While the derivation of the term is well-documented in historical linguistics, its modern usage has shifted significantly from its original Latin roots.
From Middle English derivacioun, borrowed from Middle French dérivation, from Latin dērīvātiō, dērīvātiōnem. Morphologically derive + -ation.
Often paired with the preposition 'of' to indicate the source or the item being traced.