nature

Meanings

Noun

• 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.
• The summary of everything that has to do with biological, chemical and physical states and events in the physical universe.
• Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
• Kind, sort; character; quality.
• Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life.
• Natural affection or reverence.

Verb

• To endow with natural qualities.

Origin

• From Middle English nature, natur, from Old French nature, from Latin nātūra ("birth, origin, natural constitution or quality"), future participle from perfect passive participle natus, from deponent verb nasci + future participle suffix -urus. Displaced native Middle English cunde ("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.