Natural Nat"u·ral adjective [ Middle English naturel , French naturel , from Latin naturalis , from natura . See Nature .] 1. Fixed or determined by nature; pertaining to the constitution of a thing; belonging to native character; according to nature; essential; characteristic; not artificial, foreign, assumed, put on, or acquired; as, the natural growth of animals or plants; the natural motion of a gravitating body; natural strength or disposition; the natural heat of the body; natural color.

With strong natural sense, and rare force of will.

Macaulay.

2. Conformed to the order, laws, or actual facts, of nature; consonant to the methods of nature; according to the stated course of things, or in accordance with the laws which govern events, feelings, etc.; not exceptional or violent; legitimate; normal; regular; as, the natural consequence of crime; a natural death.

What can be more natural than the circumstances in the behavior of those women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day?

Addison.

3. Having to do with existing system to things; dealing with, or derived from, the creation, or the world of matter and mind, as known by man; within the scope of human reason or experience; not supernatural; as, a natural law; natural science; history, theology.

I call that natural religion which men might know . . . by the mere principles of reason, improved by consideration and experience, without the help of revelation.

Bp. Wilkins.

4. Conformed to truth or reality ; as: (a) Springing from true sentiment; not artificial or exaggerated; -- said of action, delivery, etc.; as, a natural gesture, tone, etc. (b) Resembling the object imitated; true to nature; according to the life; -- said of anything copied or imitated; as, a portrait is natural .

5. Having the character or sentiments properly belonging to one's position; not unnatural in feelings.

To leave his wife, to leave his babes, . . .
He wants the natural touch.

Shak.

6. Connected by the ties of consanguinity. " Natural friends." J. H. Newman.

7. Begotten without the sanction of law; born out of wedlock; illegitimate; bastard; as, a natural child.

8. Of or pertaining to the lower or animal nature, as contrasted with the higher or moral powers, or that which is spiritual; being in a state of nature; unregenerate.

The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.

1 Cor. ii. 14.

9. (Math.) Belonging to, to be taken in, or referred to, some system, in which the base is 1; -- said or certain functions or numbers; as, natural numbers, those commencing at 1; natural sines, cosines, etc., those taken in arcs whose radii are 1.

10. (Mus.) (a) Produced by natural organs, as those of the human throat, in distinction from instrumental music. (b) Of or pertaining to a key which has neither a flat nor a sharp for its signature, as the key of C major. (c) Applied to an air or modulation of harmony which moves by easy and smooth transitions, digressing but little from the original key. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Natural day , the space of twenty-four hours. Chaucer.

-- Natural fats , Natural gas , etc. See under Fat , Gas . etc. -- Natural Harmony (Mus.) , the harmony of the triad or common chord. -- Natural history , in its broadest sense, a history or description of nature as a whole, incuding the sciences of botany , zoölogy , geology , mineralogy , paleontology , chemistry , and physics . In recent usage the term is often restricted to the sciences of botany and zoölogy collectively, and sometimes to the science of zoology alone. -- Natural law , that instinctive sense of justice and of right and wrong, which is native in mankind, as distinguished from specifically revealed divine law, and formulated human law. -- Natural modulation (Mus.) , transition from one key to its relative keys. -- Natural order . (Nat. Hist.) See under order . -- Natural person . (Law) See under person , noun -- Natural philosophy , originally, the study of nature in general; in modern usage, that branch of physical science, commonly called physics , which treats of the phenomena and laws of matter and considers those effects only which are unaccompanied by any change of a chemical nature; -- contrasted with mental and moral philosophy . -- Natural scale (Mus.) , a scale which is written without flats or sharps. Model would be a preferable term, as less likely to mislead, the so-called artificial scales (scales represented by the use of flats and sharps) being equally natural with the so-called natural scale -- Natural science , natural history, in its broadest sense; -- used especially in contradistinction to mental or moral science . -- Natural selection (Biol.) , a supposed operation of natural laws analogous, in its operation and results, to designed selection in breeding plants and animals, and resulting in the survival of the fittest . The theory of natural selection supposes that this has been brought about mainly by gradual changes of environment which have led to corresponding changes of structure, and that those forms which have become so modified as to be best adapted to the changed environment have tended to survive and leave similarly adapted descendants, while those less perfectly adapted have tended to die out though lack of fitness for the environment, thus resulting in the survival of the fittest . See Darwinism . -- Natural system (Bot. & Zoology) , a classification based upon real affinities, as shown in the structure of all parts of the organisms, and by their embryology.

It should be borne in mind that the natural system of botany is natural only in the constitution of its genera, tribes, orders, etc., and in its grand divisions.

Gray.

-- Natural theology , or Natural religion , that part of theological science which treats of those evidences of the existence and attributes of the Supreme Being which are exhibited in nature; -- distinguished from revealed religion . See Quotation under Natural , adjective , 3. -- Natural vowel , the vowel sound heard in urn , furl , sir , her , etc.; -- so called as being uttered in the easiest open position of the mouth organs. See Neutral vowel , under Neutral and Guide to Pronunciation , § 17.

Syn. -- See Native .

Natural Nat"u·ral noun 1. A native; an aboriginal. [ Obsolete] Sir W. Raleigh.

2. plural Natural gifts, impulses, etc. [ Obsolete] Fuller.

3. One born without the usual powers of reason or understanding; an idiot. "The minds of naturals ." Locke.

4. (Mus.) A character [ ♮] used to contradict, or to remove the effect of, a sharp or flat which has preceded it, and to restore the unaltered note.

Natural steel Nat"u·ral steel Steel made by the direct refining of cast iron in a finery, or, as wootz, by a direct process from the ore.

Naturalism Nat"u·ral·ism noun [ Confer French naturalisme .] 1. A state of nature; conformity to nature.

2. (Metaph.) The doctrine of those who deny a supernatural agency in the miracles and revelations recorded in the Bible, and in spiritual influences; also, any system of philosophy which refers the phenomena of nature to a blind force or forces acting necessarily or according to fixed laws, excluding origination or direction by one intelligent will.

Naturalism Nat"u·ral·ism noun 1. The theory that art or literature should conform to nature; realism; also, the quality, rendering, or expression of art or literature executed according to this theory.

2. Specif., the principles and characteristics professed or represented by a 19th-century school of realistic writers, notably by Zola and Maupassant, who aimed to give a literal transcription of reality, and laid special stress on the analytic study of character, and on the scientific and experimental nature of their observation of life.

Naturalist Nat"u·ral·ist noun [ Confer French naturaliste .] 1. One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp. of the natural history of animals.

2. One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion. H. Bushnell.

Naturalistic Nat`u·ral·is"tic adjective 1. Belonging to the doctrines of naturalism.

2. Closely resembling nature; realistic. " Naturalistic bit of pantomime." W. D. Howells.

Naturality Nat`u·ral"i·ty noun [ Latin naturalitas : confer French naturalité .] Nature; naturalness. [ R.]

Naturalization Nat`u·ral·i·za"tion noun [ Confer French naturalisation .] The act or process of naturalizing, esp. of investing an alien with the rights and privileges of a native or citizen; also, the state of being naturalized.

Naturalize Nat"u·ral·ize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Naturalized ; present participle & verbal noun Naturalizing .] [ Confer French naturaliser . See Natural .] 1. To make natural; as, custom naturalizes labor or study.

2. To confer the rights and privileges of a native subject or citizen on; to make as if native; to adopt, as a foreigner into a nation or state, and place in the condition of a native subject.

3. To receive or adopt as native, natural, or vernacular; to make one's own; as, to naturalize foreign words.

4. To adapt; to accustom; to habituate; to acclimate; to cause to grow as under natural conditions.

Its wearer suggested that pears and peaches might yet be naturalized in the New England climate.

Hawthorne.

Naturalize Nat"u·ral·ize intransitive verb 1. To become as if native.

2. To explain phenomena by natural agencies or laws, to the exclusion of the supernatural.

Infected by this naturalizing tendency.

H. Bushnell.

Naturally Nat"u·ral·ly adverb In a natural manner or way; according to the usual course of things; spontaneously.

Naturalness Nat"u·ral·ness noun The state or quality of being natural; conformity to nature.

Nature Na"ture noun [ French, from Latin natura , from natus born, produced, past participle of nasci to be born. See Nation .] 1. The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe.

But looks through nature up to nature's God.

Pope.

Nature has caprices which art can not imitate.

Macaulay.

2. 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.

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

Milton.

3. The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.

4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience.

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Shak.

5. 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.

Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem,
Their nature also to thy nature join,
And be thyself man among men on earth.

Milton.

6. Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality.

A dispute of this nature caused mischief.

Dryden.

7. Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life. "My days of nature ." Shak.

Oppressed nature sleeps.

Shak.

8. Natural affection or reverence.

Have we not seen
The murdering son ascend his parent's bed,
Through violated nature foce his way?

Pope.

9. Constitution or quality of mind or character.

A born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick.

Shak.

That reverence which is due to a superior nature .

Addison.

Good nature , Ill nature . see under Good and Ill . -- In a state of nature . (a) Naked as when born; nude . (b) In a condition of sin; unregenerate . (c) Untamed; uncvilized. -- Nature printng , a process of printing from metallic or other plates which have received an impression, as by heavy pressure, of an object such as a leaf, lace, or the like. -- Nature worship , the worship of the personified powers of nature. -- To pay the debt of nature , to die.

Nature Na"ture transitive verb To endow with natural qualities. [ Obsolete]

He [ God] which natureth every kind.

Gower.

Natured Na"tured adjective Having (such) a nature, temper, or disposition; disposed; -- used in composition; as, good- natured , ill- natured , etc.

Natureless Na"ture·less adjective Not in accordance with nature; unnatural. [ Obsolete] Milton.

Naturism Na"tur·ism noun (Medicine) The belief or doctrine that attributes everything to nature as a sanative agent.

Naturist Na"tur·ist noun One who believes in, or conforms to, the theory of naturism. Boyle.

Naturity Na·tu"ri·ty noun The quality or state of being produced by nature. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

Naturize Na"tur·ize transitive verb To endow with a nature or qualities; to refer to nature. [ Obsolete] B. Jonson.

Naufrage Nau"frage noun [ French, from Latin naufragium ; navis + frangere .] Shipwreck; ruin. [ Obsolete] acon.

Naufragous Nau"fra·gous adjective [ Latin naufragus . See Naufrage .] causing shipwreck. [ Obsolete] r. Taylor.

Naught Naught noun [ Middle English naught , nought , naht , nawiht , Anglo-Saxon n...wiht , n...uht , n...ht ; ne not + ... ever + wiht thing, whit; hence, not ever a whit. See No , adverb Whit , and confer Aught , Not .] 1. Nothing. [ Written also nought .]

Doth Job fear God for naught ?

Job i. 9.

2. The arithmetical character 0; a cipher. See Cipher .

To set at naught , to treat as of no account; to disregard; to despise; to defy; to treat with ignominy. "Ye have set at naught all my counsel." Prointransitive verb 25.

Naught Naught adverb In no degree; not at all. Chaucer.

To wealth or sovereign power he naught applied.

Fairfax.

Naught Naught adjective 1. Of no value or account; worthless; bad; useless.

It is naught , it is naught , saith the buyer.

Prov. xx. 14.

Go, get you to your house; begone, away!
All will be naught else.

Shak.

Things naught and things indifferent.

Hooker.

2. Hence, vile; base; naughty. [ Obsolete]

No man can be stark naught at once.

Fuller.

Naughtily Naugh"ti·ly adverb In a naughty manner; wickedly; perversely. Shak.

Naughtiness Naugh"ti·ness noun The quality or state of being naughty; perverseness; badness; wickedness.

I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart.

1 Sam. xvii. 28.

Naughtly Naught"ly adverb Naughtily; wrongly. [ Obsolete]

because my parents naughtly brought me up.

Mir. for Mag.

Naughty Naugh"ty adjective [ Compar. Naughtier ; superl. Naughtiest .] 1. Having little or nothing. [ Obsolete]

[ Men] that needy be and naughty , help them with thy goods.

Piers Plowman.

2. Worthless; bad; good for nothing. [ Obsolete]

The other basket had very naughty figs.

Jer. xxiv. 2.

3. hence, corrupt; wicked. [ Archaic]

So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

Shak.

4. Mischievous; perverse; froward; guilty of disobedient or improper conduct; as, a naughty child.

» This word is now seldom used except in the latter sense, as applied to children, or in sportive censure.

Nauheim treatment Nau"heim treat`ment (Medicine) Orig., a method of therapeutic treatment administered, esp. for chronic diseases of the curculatory system, at Bad Nauheim, Germany, by G. Schott, consisting in baths in the natural mineral waters of that place, which are charged with carbonic acid, and the use of a graduated course of rest, physical exercises, massage, etc.; hence, any similar treatment using waters artificially charged with the essential ingredients of the natural mineral waters of Bad Nauheim. Hence, Nauheim bath etc.

Naumachy Nau"ma·chy noun [ Latin naumachia , Greek ...; ... ship + ... fight, battle, ... to fight.] 1. A naval battle; esp., a mock sea fight.

2. (Rom. Antiq.) A show or spectacle representing a sea fight; also, a place for such exhibitions.

Nauplius Nau"pli·us noun ; plural Nauplii . [ Latin , a kind of shellfish, from Greek ... ship + ... to sail.] (Zoology) A crustacean larva having three pairs of locomotive organs (corresponding to the antennules, antennæ, and mandibles), a median eye, and little or no segmentation of the body.

Nauropometer Nau`ro·pom"e·ter noun [ Greek ... ship + ... inclination + -meter .] (Nautical) An instrument for measuring the amount which a ship heels at sea.

Nauscopy Naus"co·py noun [ Greek ... ship + - scopy : confer French nauscopie .] (Nautical) The power or act of discovering ships or land at considerable distances.

Nausea Nau"se·a noun [ Latin , from Greek ..., from ... ship. See Nave of a church, and confer Noise .] Seasickness; hence, any similar sickness of the stomach accompanied with a propensity to vomit; qualm; squeamishness of the stomach; loathing.

Nauseant Nau"se·ant noun [ Latin nauseans , present participle Of nauseare .] (Medicine) A substance which produces nausea.

Nauseate Nau"se·ate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Nauseated ; present participle & verbal noun Nauseating .] [ Latin nauseare , nauseatum , from nausea . See Nausea .] To become squeamish; to feel nausea; to turn away with disgust.

Nauseate Nau"se·ate transitive verb 1. To affect with nausea; to sicken; to cause to feel loathing or disgust.

2. To sicken at; to reject with disgust; to loathe.

The patient nauseates and loathes wholesome foods.

Blackmore.

Nauseation Nau`se·a"tion noun The act of nauseating, or the state of being nauseated.

Nauseative Nau"se·a·tive adjective Causing nausea; nauseous.

Nauseous Nau"seous adjective [ Latin nauseosus .] Causing, or fitted to cause, nausea; sickening; loathsome; disgusting; exciting abhorrence; as, a nauseous drug or medicine. -- Nau"seous*ly , adverb -- Nau"seous*ness , noun

The nauseousness of such company disgusts a reasonable man.

Dryden.

Nautch Nautch noun [ Hind. nāch , from Sanskrit nrtya dance.] An entertainment consisting chiefly of dancing by professional dancing (or Nautch) girls. [ India]

Nautic Nau"tic adjective [ See Nautical .] Nautical.

Nautical Nau"tic·al adjective [ Latin nauticus , Greek naytiko`s , from nay`ths a seaman, sailor, from nay^s ship: confer French nautique . See Nave of a church.] Of or pertaining to seamen, to the art of navigation, or to ships; as, nautical skill.

Syn. -- Naval; marine; maritime. See Naval .

Nautical almanac . See under Almanac . -- Nautical distance , the length in nautical miles of the rhumb line joining any two places on the earth's surface. -- nautical mile . See under Mile .

Nautically Nau"tic·al·ly adverb In a nautical manner; with reference to nautical affairs.

Nautiform Nau"ti·form adjective [ Greek nay^s ship + -form .] Shaped like the hull of a ship.

Nautilite Nau"ti·lite noun (paleon.) A fossil nautilus.

Nautiloid Nau"ti·loid adjective [ Nautilus + -oid : confer French nautiloïde .] (Zoology) Like or pertaining to the nautilus; shaped like a nautilus shell. -- noun A mollusk, or shell, of the genus Nautilus or family Nautilidæ .

Nautilus Nau"ti·lus noun ; plural English Nautiluses , Latin Nautili . [ Latin , from Greek nayti`los a seaman, sailor, a kind of shellfish which was supposed to be furnished with a membrane which served as a sail; from nay^s ship. See Nave of a church.] 1. (Zoology) The only existing genus of tetrabranchiate cephalopods. About four species are found living in the tropical Pacific, but many other species are found fossil. The shell is spiral, symmetrical, and chambered, or divided into several cavities by simple curved partitions, which are traversed and connected together by a continuous and nearly central tube or siphuncle. See Tetrabranchiata .

» The head of the animal bears numerous simple tapered arms, or tentacles, arranged in groups, but not furnished with suckers. The siphon, unlike, that of ordinary cephalopods, is not a closed tube, and is not used as a locomotive organ, but merely serves to conduct water to and from the gill cavity, which contains two pairs of gills. The animal occupies only the outer chamber of the shell; the others are filled with gas. It creeps over the bottom of the sea, not coming to the surface to swim or sail, as was formerly imagined.

2. The argonaut; -- also called paper nautilus . See Argonauta , and Paper nautilus , under Paper .

3. A variety of diving bell, the lateral as well as vertical motions of which are controlled, by the occupants.

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