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2 : ETYMOLOGY

3 : SOURCE, ORIGIN; also : DESCENT

4 : an act or process of deriving

de·riv·a·tive noun 1 : a word formed by derivation

2 : something derived

— derivative adjective

Synonyms

offshoot, outgrowth, spin-off; also descendant; aftermath, consequence, result; aftereffect, side affect; copy, duplicate, facsimile, replica, reproduction

Antonyms

origin, root, source

de·rive verb de·rived; de·riv·ing [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF deriver, fr. L derivare, lit., to draw off (water), fr. de- from + rivus stream]

1 : to receive or obtain from a source

2 : to obtain from a parent substance

3 : INFER, DEDUCE

4 : to trace the derivation of

5 : to come from a certain source

der·mal adjective : of or relating to the skin : CUTANEOUS

der·ma·ti·tis noun, plural -tit·i·des or -ti·tis·es : inflammation of the skin

der·ma·tol·o·gy noun : a branch of medical science dealing with the structure, functions, and diseases of the skin

— der·ma·tol·o·gist noun

der·mis noun : the sensitive vascular inner layer of the skin

der·o·gate verb -gat·ed; -gat·ing 1 : to cause to seem inferior : DISPARAGE

2 : DETRACT

— der·o·ga·tion noun

— de·ro·ga·tive adjective

de·rog·a·to·ry adjective : intended to lower the reputation of a person or thing : DISPARAGING

— de·rog·a·to·ri·ly adverb

Synonyms

contemptuous, degrading, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, uncomplimentary; also defamatory, insulting, libelous, maligning, slandering, slanderous, vilifying; abusive, opprobrious, scurrilous; malevolent, malicious, spiteful

Antonyms

complimentary

der·rick noun [ORIGIN: obs. derrick hangman, gallows, fr. Derick, name of 17th cent. Eng. hangman]

1 : a hoisting apparatus : CRANE

2 : a framework over a drill hole (as for oil) for supporting machinery

der·ri·ere or der·ri·ère noun : BUTTOCKS

der·ring–do noun : DARING

der·rin·ger noun : a short-barreled pocket pistol

der·vish noun [ORIGIN: Turk derviş, lit., beggar, fr. Pers darvīsh]

: a member of a Muslim religious order noted for devotional exercises (as bodily movements leading to a trance)

de·sal·i·nate verb -nat·ed; -nat·ing : DESALT

— de·sal·i·na·tion noun

de·sal·i·nize verb -nized; -niz·ing : DESALT

— de·sal·i·ni·za·tion noun

de·salt verb : to remove salt from <~ seawater>

— de·salt·er noun

des·cant verb 1 : to sing or play part music : SING

2 : to discourse or write at length

Synonyms

carol, chant, sing, vocalize—more at SING

de·scend verb 1 : to pass from a higher to a lower place or level : pass, move, or climb down or down along

2 : DERIVE <~ed from royalty>

3 : to pass by inheritance or transmission

4 : to incline, lead, or extend downward

5 : to swoop down or appear suddenly (as in an attack)

Synonyms

[1, 4] decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge; also cant, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip

Antonyms

ascend, climb, rise

[5] assail, assault, attack, beset, charge, jump, pounce, raid, rush, storm, strike—more at ATTACK

1descendant also de·scen·dent adjective 1 : moving or directed downward

2 : proceeding from an ancestor or source

2descendant also descendent noun 1 : one descended from another or from a common stock

2 : one deriving directly from a precursor or prototype

de·scent noun 1 : derivation from an ancestor : LINEAGE

2 : the act or process of descending

3 : SLOPE

4 : a descending way (as a downgrade)

5 : a sudden hostile raid or assault

6 : a downward step (as in station or value) : DECLINE

Synonyms

[1] ancestry, birth, blood, bloodline, breeding, extraction, family tree, genealogy, line, lineage, origin, parentage, pedigree, stock, strain—more at ANCESTRY

[2] dip, dive, down, drop, fall, plunge; also comedown, downfall, downgrade; sinking

Antonyms

ascent, climb, rise, upswing, upturn

[5] aggression, assault, attack, charge, offense, offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike—more at ATTACK

[6] comedown, decline, down, downfall,