if someone asked you to give " a brief notation of the origin", what exactly are they asking you to do?

Answer 1

They're asking you exactly that. A short and concise explanation of how something started.

Answer 2

1st off ill explain it with different words...
"tell me where this (i take it its a word) comes from and other interesting things about it"

2nd-
you should respond with all of the following info. and since i think your talking about a word im going to do it that way first...
-tell the root word
-what does the root mean
-where is the root from
-same 4 prefixes and suffixes
-tell what the word means today
-use it in a sentance

that is all you should have to do for a "brief" notation so im gonna leave it at that..

if it's a concrete object:

-where did it come from?
-why is it important
-who all oned it (if possible)
-what it's made of
-how old is it
-interesting fact or 2

Answer 3

research the origin of your subject
in the case of words they are asking for the etymological root of the particular word

Answer 4

Briefly explain the derivation.

-MM

Answer 5

they are asking which particular physical events and/or mental events were prior to and the cause of a thing.