Nature
['neɪtʃə] or ['netʃɚ]
Definition
(noun.) the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions; 'it is his nature to help others'.
(noun.) the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized; 'it is the nature of fire to burn'; 'the true nature of jealousy'.
(noun.) a particular type of thing; 'problems of this type are very difficult to solve'; 'he's interested in trains and things of that nature'; 'matters of a personal nature'.
(noun.) the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.; 'they tried to preserve nature as they found it'.
(noun.) a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe; 'the laws of nature'; 'nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women'.
Checker: Pamela--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe.
(n.) The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; -- often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence.
(n.) The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
(n.) Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artifical, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
(n.) The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being.
(n.) Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality.
(n.) Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life.
(n.) Natural affection or reverence.
(n.) Constitution or quality of mind or character.
(v. t.) To endow with natural qualities.
Typist: Shelby
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. World, creation, universe, system of created things, aggregate of phenomena, world of matter and of mind, sum of causes and effects.[2]. Sum total of sensible objects, world of matter.[3]. Character, essence, constitution, quality.[4]. Kind, sort, species.[5]. Temper, disposition, humor, mood, grain.[6]. Mind, intelligence, intelligent being.[7]. Active principle of the universe, soul of the universe, God.[8]. Regular course of things, usual or established order of events.[9]. What is natural, conformity with nature, accordance with truth or reality.
Edited by Johanna
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Essence, creation, constitution, structure, disposition, truth, regularity,kind, sort, character, species, affection, naturalness
ANT:Thing, object, subject, man, being, creature, monstrosity, unnaturalness, art,fiction, romance, invention
Checker: Rene
Definition
n. the power which creates and which regulates the material world: the power of growth: the established order of things the universe: the qualities of anything which make it what it is: constitution: species: conformity to nature truth or reality: inborn mind character instinct or disposition: vital power as of man or animal: course of life: nakedness: a primitive undomesticated condition.—adj. Nā′tured having a certain temper or disposition: used in compounds as good-natured.—ns. Nā′ture-dē′ity a deity personifying some force of physical nature; Nā′ture-myth a myth symbolising natural phenomena; Nā′ture-print′ing the process of printing in colours from plates that have been impressed with some object of nature as a plant leaf &c.; Nā′ture-wor′ship Nā′turism worship of the powers of nature.—n. Nā′turist.—adj. Naturist′ic.—Debt of nature death; Ease or Relieve nature to evacuate the bowels.
Checked by Justin
Unserious Contents or Definition
The author of 'The Seasons,' an interesting work over which Spring pours, Summer smiles, and Autumn turns the leaves while Winter catches the drift of it all.
Checker: Wayne
Examples
- Investigation of these cases, however, revealed invariably the purely fraudulent nature of all such offers, which were uniformly declined. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- In connection with the adoption of this lubricating system there occurred another instance of his knowledge of materials and intuitive insight into the nature of things. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- A cocoanut shell always has a soft spot at one end because this is the provision nature has made to allow the embryo of the future tree to push its way out of the hard shell. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Human nature appears to be just the same, all over the world. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- An idea is by its very nature weaker and fainter than an impression; but being in every other respect the same, cannot imply any very great mystery. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- Of what nature are they? Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Her honest ostentatious nature made the sharing of a merited dishonor as bitter as it could be to any mortal. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- When happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- His hat presents at the rims a peculiar appearance of a glistening nature, as if it had been a favourite snail-promenade. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- The most obvious conclusion from this is, that human nature is in general pusillanimous; since upon the sudden appearance of any object. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- Men find themselves a part of Merry England or Holy Russia; they grow up into these devotions; they accept them as a part of their nature. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Its great interest for the history of thought lies in the fact that it is the result of seeking the constant in the variable, the unitary principle in the multiple phenomena of nature. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- Gerty Farish had opposed the plan with all the energy of her somewhat inarticulate nature. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- His model was a po em by Empedocles on Nature, the grand hexameters of which had fasci nated the Roman poet. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- In the first place, as we began by observing, the nature of the philosopher has to be ascertained. Plato. The Republic.
- And ought not the same natures to have the same pursuits? Plato. The Republic.
- I mean to say that there do exist natures gifted with those opposite qualities. Plato. The Republic.
- Noble natures under such circumstances become enraged. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Your two natures agree with you. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Then it will be our duty to select, if we can, natures which are fitted for the task of guarding the city? Plato. The Republic.
- Winnie is a special nature, and for special natures you must give a special world. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- They cannot change their natures. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- All of us that have anything good in our natures. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Our natures dovetailed: mutual affection--of the strongest kind--was the result. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- And what numberless and powerful causes tend to destroy these rare natures! Plato. The Republic.
- Neither, for the matter of that, do such natures as mine. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Their natures seemed to sparkle in full interplay, they were enjoying a pure game. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Between ourselves and our real natures we interpose that wax figure of idealizations and selections which we call our character. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Then a soul which forgets cannot be ranked among genuine philosophic natures; we must insist that the philosopher should have a good memory? Plato. The Republic.
- Mental suffering and trial supply, in some natures, the place of years, and I will be as plain with you as if I were a Lady Abbess. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
Checker: Neil