ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi ˌdɛ.ɹɪˈveɪ.ʃ(ə)n ˈlɪ.ni.ɪdʒ the act of deriving something or obtaining something from a source or origin drawing off water from its main channel as for irrigation drawing of fluid or inflammation away from a diseased part of the body inherited properties shared with others of your bloodline a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows logically from accepted propositions (historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase the source or origin from which something derives (i.e. comes or issues) he prefers shoes of Italian derivation music of Turkish derivation (descriptive linguistics) the process whereby new words are formed from existing words or bases by affixation ‘singer’ from ‘sing’ or ‘undo’ from ‘do’ are examples of derivations