The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Originate \O*rig"i*nate\, v. i.
   To take first existence; to have origin or beginning; to
   begin to exist or act; as, the scheme originated with the
   governor and council.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Originate \O*rig"i*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Originated; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Originating.] [From Origin.]
   To give an origin or beginning to; to cause to be; to bring
   into existence; to produce as new.
   [1913 Webster]

         A decomposition of the whole civil and political mass,
         for the purpose of originating a new civil order.
                                                  --Burke.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

originate
    v 1: come into existence; take on form or shape; "A new
         religious movement originated in that country"; "a love
         that sprang up from friendship"; "the idea for the book
         grew out of a short story"; "An interesting phenomenon
         uprose" [syn: originate, arise, rise, develop,
         uprise, spring up, grow]
    2: bring into being; "He initiated a new program"; "Start a
       foundation" [syn: originate, initiate, start]
    3: begin a trip at a certain point, as of a plane, train, bus,
       etc.; "The flight originates in Calcutta"