01 v. t. To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; -- followed b…
imp. & p. p.
Derived; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deriving
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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.
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2.
To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; -- followed by from.
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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.
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4.
To obtain one substance from another by actual or theoretical substitution; as, to derive an organic acid from its corresponding hydrocarbon.(Chem.)