What does "source" mean?

Source: The rising from the ground, or beginning, of a stream of water or the like; a spring; a fountain. Where as the Poo out of a welle small Taketh his firste springing and his sours. Chaucer. Kings that rule Behind the hidden sources of the Nile. Addison.

Additional senses

  1. 2.That from which anything comes forth, regarded as its cause or origin; the person from whom anything originates; first cause. This source of ideas every man has wholly in himself. Locke. The source of Newton's light, of Bacon's sense. Pope.

Sources