What is the antonym of "terminus"? [closed]

As for an ad hoc single-direction train, the last station is called the "terminus", while the first station is called the ______.

A. origin

B. source

C. start

D. initus

E. ...... (other names)

Solution 1:

The words, on British railways, are "origin" and "destination".

"Terminus" has a specific meaning, which is the end of the line, and trains cannot pass beyond that point without reversing. Many London major stations are terminals (termini) because of the way the railways were built in London.

Solution 2:

Depending on the sense of terminus, it can mean both the first (start) and the last (finish):

[Merriam-Webster]
1 : either end of a transportation line or travel route
also : the station, town, or city at such a place : TERMINAL

So, in that sense, the first train station would also be called a terminus. (The train station would have at least two of them; there would be more if there were several different lines of travel, each starting or finishing at one place.)

But you may be using a looser sense of the word:

3 : a final goal : a finishing point

If so, then origin is a good opposite. (Also from Merriam-Webster).

2 a : rise, beginning, or derivation from a source
// the origin of life on Earth
// The word "algebra" is of Arabic origin.
2 b : the point at which something begins or rises or from which it derives
// the origin of the custom
also : something that creates, causes, or gives rise to another
// a spring is the origin of the brook

Note that if you are actually naming stations, you'd likely pair central station or first station with final station or last station.