original

Etymology

From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin originalis (“primitive, original”), from Latin origo (“beginning, source, origin”); see origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈɹɪdʒɪnəl/
• Hyphenation: ori‧gi‧nal

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

original (comparative more original, superlative most original)

1. (not comparable) 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

   • 1944, Miles Burton, chapter 5, in The Three Corpse Trick:

     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.

2. (not comparable) First in a series or copies/versions.

   The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.

   This recording is by the original broadway cast.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess‎:

     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, […].

3. (not comparable) Newly created.

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

4. (comparable) Fresh, different.

   The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception.

5. (not comparable) Pioneering.

   Parker was one of the original bebop players.

6. (not comparable) Having as its origin.

   This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.

Noun

original (plural originals)

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

   This manuscript is the original.

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

   You’re a real original.

3. (archaic) An eccentric.

Further reading

• original in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• original in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Adjective

original (masculine and feminine plural originals)

1. original

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin originalis. Doublet of originel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ.ʁi.ʒi.nal/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

original (feminine singular originale, masculine plural originaux, feminine plural originales)

1. original

Noun

original m (plural originaux)

1. An unusual or eccentric person
2. An original manuscript

Further reading

• “original” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Etymology

Borrowed from French original, from Old French original, from Late Latin originālis (“primitive, original”), from Latin origō (“beginning, source, origin”). Doublet of originell.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oʁiɡiˈnaːl/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aːl

Adjective

original (comparative originaler, superlative am originalsten)

1. original

Further reading

• original in Duden online

Etymology

From Latin originalis; the noun being derived from the adjective.

Adjective

original (neuter singular originalt, definite singular and plural originale)

1. original

Noun

original m (definite singular originalen, indefinite plural originaler, definite plural originalene)

1. an original

References

• “original” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Etymology

From Latin originalis; the noun being derived from the adjective.

Adjective

original (neuter singular originalt, definite singular and plural originale)

1. original

Noun

original m (definite singular originalen, indefinite plural originalar, definite plural originalane)

1. an original

References

• “original” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Adjective

original m, f (plural originais, comparable)

1. original (relating to the origin or beginning)
2. original (being the first in a series)
3. original (different; unique)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oriɡǐnaːl/
• Hyphenation: o‧ri‧gi‧nal

Noun

origìnāl m (Cyrillic spelling оригѝна̄л)

1. original

Etymology

From Latin originalis

Adjective

original (plural originales)

1. original