origin

Origin refers to the point or place where something begins, arises, or is derived. It can indicate a starting point, a source, or the cause of a phenomenon, and is often contrasted with its end, consequence, or effect. In everyday use, origin denotes where something comes from—its source, lineage, or birthplace. The word derives from Latin originem, from origo, “a rising” or “to rise.”

In cosmology, the origin of the universe concerns events that marked the beginning of cosmic history, with the prevailing model describing a hot, dense state expanding over 13.8 billion years. In biology, origin is used for questions about the origin of life (abiogenesis) and the origin of species, the latter explained in evolutionary biology as descent with modification from common ancestors.

In geology and geography, the origin of a river or glacier refers to its source or headwaters, often located in mountains or highlands, while the place where sediment or groundwater emerges can also be described as an origin. In mathematics and computer science, the origin is the reference point in a coordinate system, often (0,0) in two dimensions, used to define positions, vectors, or translations; in data contexts, origin can denote the source of information.

In anthropology and linguistics, origins concern the emergence of languages, cultures, and populations, often involving migration, contact, and synthesis. The concept is used across disciplines to trace beginnings, roots, and ancestry, and it remains a subject of empirical investigation and philosophical reflection about causality and time.