Etymology Map
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Derive

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to obtain from a source

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

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

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.