Flint.
— De*riv"a*tive*ly, adv. — De*riv"a*tive*ness, n.
Derivative
(De*riv"a*tive), n.
1. That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from another.
2. (Gram.) A word formed from another word, by a prefix or suffix, an internal modification, or some
other change; a word which takes its origin from a root.
3. (Mus.) A chord, not fundamental, but obtained from another by inversion; or, vice versa, a ground
tone or root implied in its harmonics in an actual chord.
4. (Med.) An agent which is adapted to produce a derivation
5. (Math.) A derived function; a function obtained from a given function by a certain algebraic process.
Except in the mode of derivation the derivative is the same as the differential coefficient. See Differential
coefficient, under Differential.
6. (Chem.) A substance so related to another substance by modification or partial substitution as to be
regarded as derived from it; thus, the amido compounds are derivatives of ammonia, and the hydrocarbons
are derivatives of methane, benzene, etc.
Derive
(De*rive") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derived ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriving.] [F. dériver, L. derivare; de-
+ rivus stream, brook. See Rival.]
1. To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to
transmit; — followed by to, into, on, upon. [Obs.]
For fear it [water] choke up the pits . . . they [the workman] derive it by other drains.
Holland.
Her due loves derived to that vile witch's share.
Spenser.
Derived to us by tradition from Adam to Noah.
Jer. Taylor. 2. To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; —
followed by from.
3. To trace the origin, descent, or derivation of; to recognize transmission of; as, he derives this word
from the Anglo-Saxon.
From these two causes . . . an ancient set of physicians derived all diseases.
Arbuthnot. 4. (Chem.) To obtain one substance from another by actual or theoretical substitution; as, to derive an
organic acid from its corresponding hydrocarbon.
Syn. — To trace; deduce; infer.
