Nature

(nāt'yūr, 53), n. [Fr. nature, Pr., Sp., Pg., It., & Lat. natura, from Lat. natus, born, produced, p. p. of nasci, to be born.] 1. The sum of qualities and attributes which make a thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; created or essential quality; peculiar constitution. Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, Their nature, also, to thy nature join, And be thyself man among men on earth. Milton. 2. Hence, kind; sort; character; species. A dispute of this nature caused mischief in abundance betwixt a king and an archbishop. Dryden. 3. Established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect, &c.; normal association. My end Was wrought by nature, not by vile offense. Shak. 4. The existing system of things; the aggregate of known causes and effects; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe. And look through nature up to nature's God. Pope. So true is it that nature has caprices which art can not imitate. Macaulay. 5. Hence, the personified sum and order of causes and effects; the power concerned to produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of the creation; the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence, often conceived of as a single and separate force. I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions. Milton. 6. Natural affection or reverence. Have we not seen The murdering son ascend his parent's bed, Through violated nature force his way? Pope.

7. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience; adherence to what is normal or usual.
8. A person of intelligence and character; a mind, intellect, or character. “That reverence which is due to a superior nature.” Addison.
9. Natural condition as regards clothing; lack of covering; nakedness; hence, rarely, the privy parts.

Good nature, natural good temper; amiability.—Ill nature, natural bad temper.—In a state of nature, naked as when born; unclothed; nude.—Nature-printing, a process of printing from metallic or other plates (usually of zinc), which have received an impression of an object (a leaf, plant, &c.), by heavy pressure, or from electrotypes of such plates. By using colored inks for different parts of the impression, a picture in colors is obtained from one pull of the press.