verb
originate
uh-RIHD-zhih-nayt
verb
1
To come into existence, or to have a particular starting point.
"The tradition originated in medieval France."
"The fire is believed to have originated in the kitchen."
2
To create or bring something into being.
"The company originated the idea of flat-pack furniture."
How to Use Originate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo start from somewhere, or to create something new.
When to use it
Fairly formal — "come from" or "start" work fine in everyday speech.
Common pairings
originate from
originate in
originated the idea
Word Forms
originated past tense, originates singular
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The tradition _____ in medieval France.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin originatus, from origo, "beginning" — a later formal verb built directly on the noun "origin."