DERIVATIVE, adjective 1. Derived; taken or having proceeded from another or something preceding; secondary; as a derivative perfection; a derivative conveyance, as a release. 2. A derivative chord, in music, is one derived from a fundamental chord. DERIVATIVE, noun 1. That which is derived; a word which takes its origin in another word, or is formed from it. Thus, depravity is a derivative from the Latin Deravo, and acknowledge, from knowledge, and this from know, the primitive word. 2. In music, a chord not fundamental.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI