original

/əˈrɪdʒənəl/
adjective
  1. Existing from the beginning; first or earliest.
    • The original owner of the house lived there for 50 years.
    • We need to restore the painting to its original colors.
    • The original plan was to leave at noon, but we changed it.
  2. Created personally by a particular artist, writer, or inventor; not a copy or imitation.
    • She bought an original painting by a local artist.
    • Is this an original design or a reproduction?
    • The museum displays the original manuscript of the novel.
  3. New and interesting in a way that is different from anything else; inventive.
    • He has a very original sense of humor.
    • Her idea for the project was truly original and impressed everyone.
    • The chef's original recipe uses unexpected ingredients.
noun
  1. The first version of something, from which copies are made.
    • The original of the painting is in a private collection.
    • She compared the photocopy with the original to check for errors.
    • Keep the original of the document and send a copy.
  2. A person who is unusual, eccentric, or creative in a distinctive way.
    • In a world of copies, be an original.
    • The artist was known as an original, never following trends.
    • My aunt is a real original — she wears mismatched socks and sings in the rain.