ENGLISH
REFERENCE

originate

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ɝˈɪdʒəˌneɪt// UK //əɹˈɪdʒɪnˌeɪt// orig·i·nate Archaic

v. to start or be created in a specific place or situation. You use this to talk about where an idea, a product, or a custom first began.

v. to have a specified beginning or to arise from a particular source. Often used to trace the historical or geographical roots of a concept, object, or biological entity.


SIMPLE

Many English words originate from Latin.

CONTEXTUAL

The tradition of decorating trees for the holidays is thought to originate from 16th-century Germany.

COMPLEX

While the virus was first identified in the capital, researchers believe it may actually originate from a remote rural province where human-animal contact is more frequent.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Medieval Latin orīginātus, perfect passive participle of orīginō (“to begin, give rise to”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from orīgō (orīgin- in compounds) + -ō. Compare Italian originare and Spanish originar.

Etymology 2

From Medieval Latin orīginātus, see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more. By surface analysis, origin + -ate.

Usage

The verb is often used with the preposition 'in' or 'from'. It can be used intransitively or transitively, though the intransitive use is more common in general writing.

Pitfall

The idea was originated in LondonThe idea originated in LondonLearners often use 'originate' in the passive voice, but it is typically used in the active voice to describe where something began.

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