nature

noun

1. 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.

   I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions.

   Most persons in striving after effect lose the likeness when they should go together to produce a good effect you must copy Nature: leave Nature for an imaginary effect & you lose all. Nature as Nature cannot be exceeded, and as your object it [is] to copy Nature twere the hight of folly to look at any thing else to produce that copy.

   Nature has caprices which art cannot imitate.

   Nature 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. 2

   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.

   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.

   Lady. ...Glamys thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promis'd: yet doe I feare thy Nature, It is too full o'th' Milke of humane kindnesse, To catch the neerest way.

   Nature passes norture.

   Men may change their Climate, but they cannot their Nature.

3. 3

   The particular way someone or something is, especially The distinguishing characteristic of a person or thing, understood as its general class, sort, type, etc.

   For the French, it was impossible for them to serve her in that nature.

   A dispute of this nature caused mischief.

   Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, of errand not wholly obvious to their fellows, yet of such sort as to call into query alike the nature of their errand and their own relations.

   And yet, though you could not actually hear what the man was saying, you could not be in any doubt about its general nature.

4. 4

   obsoleteThe particular way someone or something is, especially Synonym of caliber: the class of a gun.

   ...One Hundred of each Nature of Case-Shot...

   B.L. cartridges have lubricators choked inside the cartridges of 40-pr. and lower natures.

5. 5

   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.

   Any such corrasiue, sharpe or eager medicine... as the said H. shal think his nature is vnable to suffer...

   For nature creſſant does not grovve alone / In thevvs and bulkes, but as this temple vvaxes, / The invvard ſervice of the minde and ſoule / Grovves vvide vvithal, […]

   I returned hungry... and had only snow to supply the calls of nature.

   The timber... is found to be brittle and effete; or, to use the workman's expression, 'its nature is gone'.

6. 6

   A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially The need to urinate and defecate.

   He withdrew from the Company to ease Nature.

   The women tell you to stop because they's feeling the call of nature. If you don't stop they pee in your lorry.

   I hear the call of nature.

7. 7

   A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially Sexual desire.

   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...

   He had placed a spell on her by means of a cunjer bag... Its effect was to rob her of connubial allure—in her words, ‘it stole her nature’.

   Every time I felt nature for her, she would rub something on her hands and face to take away my nature.

   Freamon: She too young for you, boy... They get younger, William. Skinnier too. You don't... 's just the nature of things. Age is age, fat is fat, nature’s nature. Moreland: Pitiful. Freamon: Pitiless. Nature don't care. Nature just is.

8. 8

   A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially Spontaneous love, affection, or reverence, especially between parent and child.

   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...

   Have we not seen (the blood of Laius shed) The murd'ring son ascend his parent's bed, Thro' violated Nature force his way, And stain the sacred womb where once he lay?

   She had no nature, nor indeed any passion but that of money.

   ...I could bear much. I'd not move nor scream While you wrote the red stripes: But there's no nature in you...

9. 9

   archaicA product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces.

   If a man want to break his wife from some man, he steals this dishcloth... an' he ketches her nachure in this dishcloth...

10. 10

    archaicA part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia.

    ... offer her the Horse, and... wash her Nature with cold Water ...

verb

1. 1

   obsoleteTo endow with natural qualities.

Forms

plural

natures

past tense

natured

past participle

natured

present participle

naturing

third person singular

natures