Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Derive \De*rive"\, v. i.
   To flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be
   deduced. --Shak.

         Power from heaven Derives, and monarchs rule by gods
         appointed.                               --Prior.

Derive \De*rive"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Derived}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Deriving}.] [F. d['e]river, L. derivare; de- + rivus
   stream, brook. See {Rival}.]
   1. To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute
      into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to
      transmit; -- followed by to, into, on, upon. [Obs.]

            For fear it [water] choke up the pits . . . they
            [the workman] derive it by other drains. --Holland.

            Her due loves derived to that vile witch's share.
                                                  --Spenser.

            Derived to us by tradition from Adam to Noah. --Jer.
                                                  Taylor.

   2. To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by
      descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; --
      followed by from.

Source : WordNet®

derive
     v 1: reason by deduction; establish by deduction [syn: {deduce},
          {infer}, {deduct}]
     2: obtain; "derive pleasure from one's garden" [syn: {gain}]
     3: come from; "The present name derives from an older form"
     4: develop or evolve, especially from a latent or potential
        state [syn: {educe}]
     5: come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for
        example; "She was descended from an old Italian noble
        family"; "he comes from humble origins" [syn: {come}, {descend}]