derivar

To derive from or result from (derivar de una causa), and, with de or en, to lead to something (el conflicto derivó en guerra). In mathematics it also means to take a derivative, and nautically, to drift off course — a genuinely useful, common verb across several registers.

• El problema derivó en una crisis mayor. — The problem led to a bigger crisis.
• Esta palabra deriva del latín. — This word derives from Latin.
• El barco derivó lejos de la costa. — The boat drifted far from the coast.

Confusing derivar de ("to come from, originate in") with derivar en ("to lead to, result in") — the preposition flips the direction of the relationship, so mixing them up reverses cause and effect.