Origin Life Coughs Viral Word Custom Person’s Family

• the origins of life on earth
• most coughs are viral in origin (= caused by a virus).
• the origin of the word remains obscure.
• this particular custom has its origins in wales.

origin

1. the point from which something starts; the cause of something
• the origins of life on earth
• Most coughs are viral in origin (= caused by a virus).
• The origin of the word remains obscure.
• This particular custom has its origins in Wales.
2. a person’s social and family background
• She has risen from humble origins to immense wealth.
• children of various ethnic origins
• people of German origin
• a person’s country of origin (= where they were born)

Extra Examples

• He had risen from humble origins through hard work.
• He is a Londoner by origin.
• He was of humble origins.
• Her accent betrayed her working-class origins.
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.
• Population genetics owes its origin to Francis Galton.
• The custom has its origin in an ancient festival.
• The development had its immediate origins in discussions with management.
• The dispute had its origin in the Battle of Wakefield.
• The label tells you the country of origin.
• The name suggests a possible African origin.
• The origins of Gdańsk go back to the tenth century.
• The rock is volcanic in origin.
• The term ‘black hole’ is of very recent origin.
• The vases share common origins.
• Their family can trace its origins back to the Norman Conquest.
• We shouldn’t forget our animal origins.
• a letter of doubtful origin
• a painting of unknown origin
• foods of animal origin
• Most coughs are viral in origin.
• The TV series examines the origins of life on earth.
• a person’s country of origin

Word Origin

• early 16th cent.: from French origine, from Latin origo, origin-, from oriri ‘to rise’.