nature

1. (uncountable, often capitalized) 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.Examples: "I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions."; "In the works of nature we find, in many instances, beauty and sublimity involved among circumstances, which are either indifferent, or which obstruct the general effect: and it is only by a train of experiments, that we can separate those circumstances from the rest... Accordingly, the inexperienced artist, when he copies nature, will copy her servilely... and the beauties of his performances will be encumbered with a number of superfluous or disagreeable concomitants. Experience and observation alone can enable him to make this determination: to exhibit the principles of beauty pure and unadulterated, and to form a creation of his own, more faultless, than ever fell under the observation of his senses."; "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."capitalizedoftenuncountable

2. The particular way someone or something is, especiallyExamples: "...One Hundred of each Nature of Case-Shot..."; "B.L. cartridges have lubricators choked inside the cartridges of 40-pr. and lower natures."Synonyms: caliberUKcountableobsoleteuncountable

3. A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especiallyExamples: "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."countableuncountable

4. A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especiallyExamples: "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."countableuncountable

5. (now rare) A product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces.Examples: "If a man want to break his wife from some man, he steals this dishcloth... an' he ketches her nachure in this dishcloth..."archaiccountableuncountable

6. (now rare) A part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia.Examples: "... offer her the Horse, and... wash her Nature with cold Water ..."archaiccountableuncountable