source
/sɔːs/
The word 'source' is typically used as a noun. It can refer to a place where something begins (like a river or a supply of water) or the origin or cause of something (like an idea or a problem). It is often used in the context of information, referring to where facts or data come from. For example, 'the source of the news' or 'cite your sources'. 'Source' can also refer to a person who provides information, especially in journalism. For instance, 'an anonymous source'. It can be used as a verb, meaning to trace something back to its origin. For example, 'We need to source the problem'. However, this usage is less common than its use as a noun and is sometimes considered informal or jargon, particularly in business contexts.
💬Casual Conversation
I'm hitting a wall with these numbers. What's the source for the client feedback?
Let me leverage my network. I'll circle back once I track down the original source.
Collocations & Compounds
source code
The human-readable instructions written by a programmer that form a computer program.
The company decided to make its source code open to the public.
primary source
An original document or artifact created at the time under study.
The historian found a primary source that shed new light on the event.
source material
The original writings or information from which something (like a book or film) is derived.
The movie is based on source material from a classic novel.
source of income
The way in which someone regularly gets money.
His investments are his main source of income.
data source
A place or system from which data can be obtained.
We need to verify the reliability of this data source.
Phrasal Verbs
source out
To obtain something, especially services or goods, from an outside supplier rather than from within your own organization.
Many companies source out their manufacturing to reduce costs.
Idioms & Sayings
go to the source
To get information directly from the person or place where it originated.
If you want the real story, you should go to the source.
follow the money source
To investigate the origin of funds, especially in a criminal or suspicious context.
The detective decided to follow the money source to uncover the corruption.
Cultural Context
The Ultimate Source: Tracing the Origins of the 'Trojan Horse' Myth
The story of the Trojan Horse is one of the most enduring tales from Greek mythology, a narrative so potent that its imagery has permeated our language and culture, giving us the term 'Trojan horse' for any deceptive tactic that lures an enemy into a trap. But where does this iconic story originate, and what are its deeper meanings?
The primary source for the tale, as we know it, is Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. Written in the 1st century BCE, the Aeneid recounts the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan survivor, after the fall of Troy. It was Virgil who vividly described the massive wooden horse, ostensibly a votive offering to the goddess Athena, left behind by the retreating Achaean (Greek) army. The Trojans, despite warnings from the priest Laocoön and the seer Cassandra, wheeled the colossal structure into their city.
Inside this seemingly innocent gift, however, Greek warriors lay hidden. As night fell and the city celebrated their supposed victory, the soldiers emerged, opened the gates, and signaled the returning Greek fleet. The ensuing slaughter and destruction of Troy are legendary. Homer's earlier epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which detail the events of the Trojan War and its aftermath, do not explicitly mention the horse itself. The Iliad ends before the sack of Troy, and while the Odyssey refers to the fall of the city, Odysseus's famous recounting of his exploits in the Underworld (Book XI) alludes to the wooden horse but doesn't provide the detailed narrative found in Virgil.
This suggests that the story of the horse evolved over time, perhaps as an oral tradition before being immortalized by Virgil. The myth serves as a powerful cautionary tale about deception, pride, and the dangers of misplaced trust. It highlights the effectiveness of cunning over brute force and the devastating consequences of ignoring wise counsel. The very concept of a 'source' for this story is complex, weaving together oral traditions, poetic embellishments, and the enduring human fascination with clever stratagems and tragic downfall.
Etymology
The word 'source' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'source' or 'sorce', meaning 'a spring, a welling up'. This, in turn, came from the Vulgar Latin 'sorcium' or 'superiectum', meaning 'something thrown over'. The ultimate origin is from the Latin verb 'surgere', meaning 'to rise'. Initially, it referred to the origin of a river or stream, and later expanded to mean any origin or starting point, whether literal or figurative.