What is an origin?

An origin is the starting point, the place or source where something begins. It’s like the very first chapter in the story of that thing.

Examples:

• The origin of a river: Where the river first starts to flow, like from a spring or a melting glacier.
• The origin of a word: the language it first came from and how it might have changed over time.
• The origin of a species: The ancestors that a particular animal or plant evolved from over millions of years.

EtymologyEtymology is the study of the origin and history of words. It’s like detective work, tracing how words have changed over time and moved between languages. Think of it like this: • Words have a long history, just like old… Read More (Where the word itself comes from!)

The word “origin” comes from the Latin word “origo,” which means “beginning,” “birth,” or “source.”