Literary notes about derive (AI summary)
The word “derive” is employed in literature to signify the process of obtaining or extracting something—whether it be comfort, knowledge, advantage, or even a name—from a preceding source. In historical narratives, it often connotes drawing strength or insight from adversity to form a moral or intellectual foundation, as in the comfort one might obtain from a pure conscience [1] or the failure to secure assistance from external tribes [2]. Philosophical and critical works use it to indicate the acquisition of benefit or authority from reason or tradition, for instance, deriving benefit from attentive listening [3] or establishing the roots of etymological terms [4], [5]. In creative writings, the term captures the transformation of tangible elements into abstract advantages, whether in the context of deriving pleasure from nature [6] or the subtle interplay of social dynamics that yield honor [7].
- Should I be condemned to suffer, I shall derive comfort from the testimony of a pure and upright conscience.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - Yet if they expected to derive any assistance from the tribes of Germany, who inhabited the banks of the Rhine, their hopes were disappointed.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - but continue to attend to my request, not to murmur at what I say, but to listen, for, as I think, you will derive benefit from listening.
— from Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates by Plato - Others derive it from another Greek word phoinix (red dye), which formed one of its most important manufactures.
— from The Anabasis of Alexander by Arrian - Some Slavonic philologists derive yaga from a root meaning to eat (in Russian yest’ ).
— from Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore - At other times we derive a great portion of our pleasures from the mere beauties of Nature.
— from The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon by Washington Irving - Honor them, and from them you will derive honor.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
