original

Etymology

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

adj

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
   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. 1944, Miles Burton, chapter 5, in The Three Corpse Trick, →OCLC, →OL
2. (not comparable) First in a series of copies or versions.
   The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions.
   This recording is by the original broadway cast.
   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, […]. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess, →OL
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 a specified place or time as its origin.
   This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina.
7. (of a potato chip) Seasoned with salt but no other flavoring; ready salted

noun

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 or creative talent.
   I have a great mind to be in Print; but above all, I would fain be an Original, and that is a true Comical Thought: When all the Learned Men in the World are but Tranſlators, is it not a Pleaſant Jeſt, that you ſhould ſtrive to be an Original! You ſhould have obſerved your Time, and have come into the World with the Ancient Greeks for that purpoſe; for the Latines themſelves are but Copies. 1700, Tom Brown, Amusements Serious and Comical, calculated for the Meridian of London, page 5
   Ahmad (1969) studied the personality differences among middle school girls identified as originals and unoriginals on the Minnesota's test of creative thinking. 1975, The Educational Trends, volumes 10-14, page 59
   The originals or the creatives were more dominant than the unoriginals or the low creatives. 2010, A. Kusuma, Creativity and Cognitive Styles in Children, page 73
3. (archaic) An eccentric person.
4. A newly designed garment released by a fashion designer as part of a collection.
   Fashion Fair will give every section first hand knowledge of the latest originals and 1962-63's exciting trends. 1962, “It's Fashion fair time again”, in Ebony, volume 17, number 11, page 126
   One such show was built around the Du Pont spring collection of Paris originals. 1963, National Retail Merchants Association. Sales Promotion Division, The NRMA Sales Promotion Encyclopedia, Vol. II., page 175
5. A ridgeling.