3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Derive  \De*rive"\,  v.  i. 
  To  flow;  to  have  origin;  to  descend;  to  proceed;  to  be 
  deduced.  --Shak. 
 
  Power  from  heaven  Derives,  and  monarchs  rule  by  gods 
  appointed.  --Prior. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Derive  \De*rive"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Derived};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Deriving}.]  [F.  d['e]river,  L.  derivare;  de-  +  rivus 
  stream,  brook.  See  {Rival}.] 
  1.  To  turn  the  course  of  as  water;  to  divert  and  distribute 
  into  subordinate  channels;  to  diffuse;  to  communicate;  to 
  transmit;  --  followed  by  to  into  on  upon  [Obs.] 
 
  For  fear  it  [water]  choke  up  the  pits  .  .  .  they 
  [the  workman]  derive  it  by  other  drains.  --Holland. 
 
  Her  due  loves  derived  to  that  vile  witch's  share. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  Derived  to  us  by  tradition  from  Adam  to  Noah.  --Jer. 
  Taylor. 
 
  2.  To  receive,  as  from  a  source  or  origin;  to  obtain  by 
  descent  or  by  transmission;  to  draw;  to  deduce;  -- 
  followed  by  from 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  derive 
  v  1:  reason  by  deduction;  establish  by  deduction  [syn:  {deduce}, 
  {infer},  {deduct}] 
  2:  obtain:  "derive  pleasure  from  one's  garden"  [syn:  {gain}] 
  3:  come  from  "The  present  name  derives  from  an  older  form" 
  [syn:  {come}] 
  4:  cause  to  develop  or  evolve,  esp.  from  a  latent  or  potential 
  state  [syn:  {educe}] 
  5:  come  from  be  connected  by  a  relationship  of  blood,  for 
  example;  "She  was  descended  from  an  old  Italian  noble 
  family";  "he  comes  from  humble  origins"  [syn:  {come},  {descend}] 

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