| 1. nature
1) the nature of things, the force, laws, order of nature 1) as opposed to what is monstrous, abnormal, perverse 2) as opposed what has been produced by the art of man: the natural branches, i.e. branches by the operation of nature 2) birth, physical origin 3) a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature 4) the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics: the natural strength, ferocity, and intractability of beasts |