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source (n.)

mid-14c., "support, base," from Old French sourse "a rising, beginning, fountainhead of a river or stream" (12c.), fem. noun taken from past participle of sourdre "to rise, spring up," from Latin surgere "to rise, arise, get up, mount up, ascend; attack," a contraction of surrigere, from assimilated form of sub "up from below" (see sub-) + regere "to keep straight, guide" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule").

The meaning "a first cause, an origin" is from late 14c., as is that of "fountain-head of a river." The meaning "person or written work supplying information or evidence" is by 1777.

also from mid-14c.

source (v.)

"obtain from a specified source," 1972, from source (n.). Related: Sourced. Sourcing (n.) as "the obtaining of goods or parts from a specific source" is by 1960 in modern commercial use.

also from 1972
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Trends of source

updated on March 24, 2023

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