original

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.”

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,[…].”

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. 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.”

   “Promontory's "last spike" ceremony was so significant to the USA's history that it is still regularly re-enacted today, using replica locomotives that nose up to each other just as the originals did.”

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.”

   “Ahmad (1969) studied the personality differences among middle school girls identified as originals and unoriginals on the Minnesota's test of creative thinking.”

   “The originals or the creatives were more dominant than the unoriginals or the low creatives.”

3. (archaic)An eccentric person.

   “‘Are you an alienist?’ I interrupted. ‘Every doctor should be - a little,’ answered that original, imperturbably.”

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.”

   “One such show was built around the Du Pont spring collection of Paris originals.”

5. A ridgeling.