derive

Where does the word "derive" come from? It comes from Latin derivare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Derive’s story begins in Latin: derivare meant “to draw off water.” 'de-' plus 'rivus', stream. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as deriver. From Latin 'rivus', stream, the root of 'rival' (sharing a stream). It reached English by 1300s as derive. Maths 'derivatives' date from the 1600s. Today, derive means to obtain from a source.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient derivare "to draw off water", 'de-' plus 'rivus', stream.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval deriver "to flow from", from Latin 'rivus', stream, the root of 'rival' (sharing a stream).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s derive "to flow from", maths 'derivatives' date from the 1600s.