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Nature
Definitions
- 1 The sum of natural forces reified and considered as a sentient being, will, or principle.
"To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man."
- 1 The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and flora and fauna as distinct from human conventions, art, and technology. capitalized, often, uncountable
"I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions."
- 2 the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions wordnet
- 3 The particular way someone or something is, especially; The essential or innate characteristics of a person or thing which will always tend to manifest, especially in contrast to specific contexts, reason, religious duty, upbringing, and personal pretense or effort. countable, uncountable
"Vliss.: ... One touch of nature makes the whole world kin, That all with one consent praise new-borne gaudes, Though they are made and moulded of things past, And goe to dust, that is a little guilt, More laud then guilt ore-dusted."
- 4 the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized wordnet
- 5 The particular way someone or something is, especially; The distinguishing characteristic of a person or thing, understood as its general class, sort, type, etc. countable, uncountable
"For the French, it was impossible for them to serve her in that nature."
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- 6 a particular type of thing wordnet
- 7 The particular way someone or something is, especially; Synonym of caliber: the class of a gun. UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable
"...One Hundred of each Nature of Case-Shot..."
- 8 the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc. wordnet
- 9 The vital functions or strength of someone or something, especially (now dialect) as requiring nourishment or careful maintenance or (medicine) as a force of regeneration without special treatment. countable, uncountable
"Any such corrasiue, sharpe or eager medicine... as the said H. shal think his nature is vnable to suffer..."
- 10 a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe wordnet
- 11 A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially; The need to urinate and defecate. countable, uncountable
"He withdrew from the Company to ease Nature."
- 12 A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially; Sexual desire. countable, uncountable
"She marvelled "What he saw in such a baby "As that prim, silent, cold Aurora Raby?" ...Why Adeline had this slight prejudice ...For me appears a question far too nice, Since Adeline was liberal by Nature; But Nature’s Nature, and has more caprices Than I have time, or will to take to pieces..."
- 13 A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially; Spontaneous love, affection, or reverence, especially between parent and child. countable, uncountable
"Lady. ... Come you Spirits, That tend on mortall thoughts, vnsex me here, ...make thick my blood, Stop vp th'accesse, and passage to Remorse, That no compunctious visitings of Nature Shake my fell purpose..."
- 14 A product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces. archaic, countable, uncountable
"If a man want to break his wife from some man, he steals this dishcloth... an' he ketches her nachure in this dishcloth..."
- 15 A part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia. archaic, countable, uncountable
"... offer her the Horse, and... wash her Nature with cold Water ..."
- 1 To endow with natural qualities. obsolete
Etymology
From Middle English nature, natur, from Old French nature, from Latin nātūra (“birth, origin, natural constitution or quality”), future participle from perfect passive participle (g)natus (“born”), from deponent verb (g)nasci (“to be born, originate”) + future participle suffix -urus. Displaced native Middle English erd (“character, nature, disposition”) from Old English eard (compare German Art (“nature, character, kind, type”)); and Middle English kynde (“character, disposition, nature”) from Old English ġecynd. More at kind.
From Middle English nature, natur, from Old French nature, from Latin nātūra (“birth, origin, natural constitution or quality”), future participle from perfect passive participle (g)natus (“born”), from deponent verb (g)nasci (“to be born, originate”) + future participle suffix -urus. Displaced native Middle English erd (“character, nature, disposition”) from Old English eard (compare German Art (“nature, character, kind, type”)); and Middle English kynde (“character, disposition, nature”) from Old English ġecynd. More at kind.
See also for "nature"
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