DERIVES (FROM) is a term used to describe the origin of something. It is often used to explain how something has been derived from another source. For example, the word 'derives' can be used to explain how a certain phrase or concept has been derived from a particular language or culture. STEMS (5 letters) is a related term which refers to the root of a word or phrase. It is the part of a word that remains unchanged when other parts of the word are changed. Stems are used to trace the origin of words and phrases and to understand their meaning.