Etymology

derivative

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Today it means: Obtained by derivation; not radical, original, or fundamental. Full definition →

Middle French dérivatif ← Latin dērīvātus
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromdērīvātus
  2. Middle French · derived fromdérivatif
  3. English todayderivative

From Middle French dérivatif, from Latin dērīvātus, perfect passive participle of dērīvō (“to derive”). Related to derive; by surface analysis, derive + -ative.

Words from the same roots

Latindērīvātus all →

derivate

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.