Nature

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈneɪtʃə/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈneɪtʃɚ/
• Rhymes: -eɪtʃə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: na + ture

Alternative forms

• natuer obsolete

Origin

From Middle English natur, nature, 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. Replaced native Middle English cunde, icunde ("nature, property, type, genus, character") (from Old English ġecynd), Middle English lund ("nature, disposition") (from Old Norse lund), Middle English burthe ("nature, birth, nation") (from Old English ġebyrd and Old Norse *byrðr). More at kind.

Full definition of nature

Noun

1. (uncountable) The natural world; consisting of all things unaffected by or predating human technology, production and design. e.g. the ecosystem, the natural environment, virgin ground, unmodified species, laws of nature.
• MacaulayNature has caprices which art cannot imitate.
• 1891, Oscar Wilde, ''The Decay of LyingNature has good intentions, of course, but, as Aristotle once said, she cannot carry them out. When I look at a landscape I cannot help seeing all its defects.
2. The innate characteristics of a thing. What something will tend by its own constitution, to be or do. Distinct from what might be expected or intended.
• 1920, Herman Cyril McNeile, Bulldog Drummond Chapter 1Being by nature of a cheerful disposition, the symptom did not surprise his servant, late private of the same famous regiment, who was laying breakfast in an adjoining room.
• 1869, Horatio Alger, Mark the Match Boy Chapter 16Mark hardly knew whether to believe this or not. He already began to suspect that Roswell was something of a humbug, and though it was not in his nature to form a causeless dislike, he certainly did not feel disposed to like Roswell.
3. The summary of everything that has to do with biological, chemical and physical states and events in the physical universe.
• MiltonI oft admire
  How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit
  Such disproportions.
• 2012-01, Robert M. Pringle, How to Be Manipulative, As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.
4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
• ShakespeareOne touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
5. Kind, sort; character; quality.
• DrydenA dispute of this nature caused mischief.
6. (obsolete) Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life.
• Shakespearemy days of nature
• ShakespeareOppressed nature sleeps.
7. (obsolete) Natural affection or reverence.
• Alexander PopeHave we not seen
  The murdering son ascend his parent's bed,
  Through violated nature force his way?

Derived terms

Related terms

Verb

1. (obsolete) To endow with natural qualities.

Anagrams

• tea-urn