\Der`i*va"tion\, n. [L. derivatio: cf. F.
d['e]rivation. See {Derive}.]
1. A leading or drawing off of water from a stream or source.
   [Obs.] --T. Burnet.
2. The act of receiving anything from a source; the act of
   procuring an effect from a cause, means, or condition, as
   profits from capital, conclusions or opinions from
   evidence.
         As touching traditional communication, . . . I do
         not doubt but many of those truths have had the help
         of that derivation.                   --Sir M. Hale.
3. The act of tracing origin or descent, as in grammar or
   genealogy; as, the derivation of a word from an Aryan
   root.
4. The state or method of being derived; the relation of
   origin when established or asserted.
5. That from which a thing is derived.
6. That which is derived; a derivative; a deduction.
         From the Euphrates into an artificial derivation of
         that river.                           --Gibbon.
7. (Math.) The operation of deducing one function from
   another according to some fixed law, called the law of
   derivation, as the of differentiation or of integration.
8. (Med.) A drawing of humors or fluids from one part of the
   body to another, to relieve or lessen a morbid process.

\Der`iva"tion\, n.
The formation of a word from its more original or radical
elements; also, a statement of the origin and history of a
word.