a. [ Pref. con- + natural. ] 1. Connected by nature; united in nature; inborn; inherent; natural. [ 1913 Webster ]

These affections are connatural to us. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Partaking of the same nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

And mix with our connatural dust. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Participation of the same nature; natural union or connection. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A congruity and connaturality between them. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To bring to the same nature as something else; to adapt. [ Obs. ] Dr. J. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By the act of nature; originally; from birth. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Participation of the same nature; natural union. I. Walton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Participation in a common nature or character. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Connature was defined as likeness in kind between either two changes in consciousness, or two states of consciousness. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

135), n. Joint signature. [ R. ] Colgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. Counternatural. ] Opposed to or against nature; unnatural. [ R. ] Bp. Rust. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Contrary to nature. [ R. ] Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed.
Syn. -- countersign. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. (Bot.) A rounded tooth or notch of a crenate leaf, or any part that is crenate; -- called also crenelle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being crenated or notched. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of declining or refusing; as, the declinature of an office. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having half the nature of another. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Denaturalized p. pr. & vb. n. Denaturalizing. ] [ Cf. F. dénaturaliser. ] 1. To render unnatural; to alienate from nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To renounce the natural rights and duties of; to deprive of citizenship; to denationalize. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They also claimed the privilege, when aggrieved, of denaturalizing themselves, or, in other words, of publicly renouncing their allegiance to their sovereign, and of enlisting under the banners of his enemy. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. same as denature. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ De- + nature. ] To deprive of its natural qualities; change the nature of. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. to render (ethyl alcohol) unfit to drink by adding in toxic or unpalatable substances (such as benzene or pyridine) which nevertherless permit alcohol to be used as a solvent. [ PJC ]

3. modify the tertiary structure of (a protein or nucleic acid) so as to reduce or destroy its characteristic biological activity. Bioactive macromolecules such as enzymes or DNA may be denatured by heat, acid, alkali, or solvent treatment; the extent of such treatment required to denature a molecule varies with the specific compound. In some cases the denatured molecules may regain their original properties (renature) by other treatments. Denaturation may also cause a change in the physical properties of such molecules, e.g. proteins may become insoluble in water. [ PJC ]

v. i. To become denatured. [ PJC ]

adj. changed in nature or natural quality.
Syn. -- denatured. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

v. t. To make alien; to deprive of the privileges of birth. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. dis- + nature: cf. OF. desnaturé, F. dénaturé. ] Deprived or destitute of natural feelings; unnatural. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Well-disposed. “A fair-natured prince.” Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L. ] Of a wild nature; -- applied to animals, as foxes, wild ducks, etc., in which no one can claim property. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Naturally mild in temper; not easily provoked; amiable; cheerful; not taking offense easily; as, too good-natured to resent a little criticism; the good-natured policeman on our block; the sounds of good-natured play. Opposite of ill-natured. [ Narrower terms: equable, even-tempered, good-tempered, placid ] Also See: kind, pleasant, agreeable, good-natured, pleasing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. to one's own liking or feelings or nature; pleasing; -- of people. Opposite of disagreeable.
Syn. -- agreeable, pleasing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Syn. -- Good-natured, Good-tempered, Good-humored. Good-natured denotes a disposition to please and be pleased. Good-tempered denotes a habit of mind which is not easily ruffled by provocations or other disturbing influences. Good-humored is applied to a spirit full of ease and cheerfulness, as displayed in one's outward deportment and in social intercourse. A good-natured man recommends himself to all by the spirit which governs him. A good-humored man recommends himself particularly as a companion. A good-tempered man is rarely betrayed into anything which can disturb the serenity of the social circle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With mildness of temper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of habitual bad temper; having an unpleasant disposition; surly; disagreeable; cross; peevish; fractious; crabbed; -- of people; as, an ill-natured person; an ill-natured disagreeable old man. Opposite of good-natured. [ Narrower terms: argumentative, contentious, disputatious, disputative, litigious : atrabilious, bilious, dyspeptic, liverish : bristly, prickly, snappish, splenetic, waspish : cantankerous, crotchety, ornery : choleric, irascible, hotheaded, hot-headed, hot-tempered, quick-tempered, short-tempered : crabbed, crabby, cross, fussy, fussbudgety, grouchy, grumpy, bad-tempered, ill-tempered: cranky, fractious, irritable, peevish, peckish, pettish, petulant, testy, tetchy, techy : crusty, curmudgeonly, gruff, ill-humored, ill-humoured: dour, glowering, glum, moody, morose, saturnine, sour, sullen : feisty, touchy : huffish, sulky: misanthropic, misanthropical : misogynous : shirty, snorty ill-tempered or annoyed): shrewish, nagging, vixenish : surly, ugly ] Also See: unpleasant. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Dictated by, or indicating, ill nature; spiteful. “The ill-natured task refuse.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Intractable; not yielding to culture. [ R. ] “Ill-natured land.” J. Philips.

3. not to one's liking; unpleasant; disagreeable. Opposite of agreeable. [ wns=2 ] [ Narrower terms: annoying, galling, chafing, irritating, nettlesome, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, plaguy, plaguey, teasing, vexatious, vexing; nerve-racking, nerve-wracking, stressful, trying ]
Syn. -- disagreeable. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

-- Ill`-na"tured*ly, adv. -- Ill`-na"tured*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖pos>n. [ L., fr. lusus sport + naturae, gen. of natura nature. ] Sport or freak of nature; a deformed or unnatural production. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. naturel, F. naturel, fr. L. naturalis, fr. 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; innate; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

With strong natural sense, and rare force of will. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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; anger is a natural response to insult. [ 1913 Webster ]

What can be more natural than the circumstances in the behavior of those women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day? Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Having the character or sentiments properly belonging to one's position; not unnatural in feelings. [ 1913 Webster ]

To leave his wife, to leave his babes, . . .
He wants the natural touch. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Connected by the ties of consanguinity. especially, Related by birth rather than by adoption; as, one's natural mother. “Natural friends.” J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

7. Hence: Begotten without the sanction of law; born out of wedlock; illegitimate; bastard; as, a natural child. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. ii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Math.) Belonging to, to be taken in, or referred to, some system, in which the base is 1; -- said of certain functions or numbers; as, natural numbers, those commencing at 1; natural sines, cosines, etc., those taken in arcs whose radii are 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. (d) Neither flat nor sharp; -- of a tone. (e) Changed to the pitch which is neither flat nor sharp, by appending the sign ♮; as, A natural. Moore (Encyc. of Music). [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

11. Existing in nature or created by the forces of nature, in contrast to production by man; not made, manufactured, or processed by humans; as, a natural ruby; a natural bridge; natural fibers; a deposit of natural calcium sulfate. Opposed to artificial, man-made, manufactured, processed and synthetic. [ wns=2 ] [ PJC ]

12. Hence: Not processed or refined; in the same statre as that existing in nature; as, natural wood; natural foods. [ PJC ]

Natural day, the space of twenty-four hours. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] --
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, including the sciences of botany, Zoology, geology, mineralogy, paleontology, chemistry, and physics. In recent usage the term is often restricted to the sciences of botany and Zoology 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, n. --
Natural philosophy, originally, the study of nature in general; the natural sciences; 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 philosophy 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, the study of objects and phenomena existing in nature, especially biology, chemistry, physics and their interdisciplinary related sciences; natural history, in its broadest sense; -- used especially in contradistinction to social science, mathematics, philosophy, mental science or moral science. --
Natural selection (Biol.), the operation of natural laws analogous, in their operation and results, to designed selection in breeding plants and animals, and resulting in the survival of the fittest; the elimination over time of species unable to compete in specific environments with other species more adapted to survival; -- the essential mechanism of evolution. The principle of natural selection is neutral with respect to the mechanism by which inheritable changes occur in organisms (most commonly thought to be due to mutation of genes and reorganization of genomes), but proposes that those forms which have become so modified as to be better adapted to the existing environment have tended to survive and leave similarly adapted descendants, while those less perfectly adapted have tended to die out through lack of fitness for the environment, thus resulting in the survival of the fittest. See Darwinism. --
Natural system (Bot. & Zool.), 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, a., 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. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Syn. -- See Native. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A native; an aboriginal. [ Obs. ] Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Natural gifts, impulses, etc. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One born without the usual powers of reason or understanding; an idiot. “The minds of naturals.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A person who has an innate talent that makes success in some specific endeavor, such as sports, much easier than for others; as, Pele was a natural in soccer. [ PJC ]

n. (Biol.) a group of living organisms classed as a family in a toxonomic classification. [ PJC ]

n. The combustible gas found associated with petroleum deposits, and also in other geological formations, comprised predominantly of methane plus variable other constitutents. It is an important source of energy, and is transported long distances by pipelines, or in a liquefied state in tankers, for commercial distribution. Some natural gas deposits contain helium, and comprise the primary source of that rare element.
Syn. -- gas. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. naturalisme. ] 1. A state of nature; conformity to nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. 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. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

4. Specifically: 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. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. naturaliste. ] 1. One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp. of the natural history of plants or animals; a botanist or zoologist. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion. H. Bushnell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Belonging to the doctrines of naturalism. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Closely resembling nature; realistic. “Naturalistic bit of pantomime.” W. D. Howells. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. naturalitas: cf. F. naturalité. ] Nature; naturalness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Naturalized p. pr. & vb. n. Naturalizing ] [ Cf. F. naturaliser. See Natural. ] 1. To make natural; as, custom naturalizes labor or study. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To receive or adopt as native, natural, or vernacular; to make one's own; as, to naturalize foreign words. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To adapt; to accustom; to habituate; to acclimate; to cause to grow as under natural conditions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Its wearer suggested that pears and peaches might yet be naturalized in the New England climate. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To become as if native. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To explain phenomena by natural agencies or laws, to the exclusion of the supernatural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infected by this naturalizing tendency. H. Bushnell. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. Acclimated to a new environment; introduced from another region and persisting without cultivation; -- of plants or animals not native to a location. [ wns=1 & 3 ]
Syn. -- domesticated, nonnative. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. planted randomly in soil so as to give an appearance of wild growth; as, drifts of naturalized daffodils. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adv. In a natural manner or way; according to the usual course of things; spontaneously. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being natural; conformity to nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem., Biochem.) A chemical substance produced by a living organism; -- a term used commonly in reference to chemical substances found in nature that have distinctive pharmacological effects. Such a substance is considered a natural product even if it can be prepared by total synthesis. [ PJC ]

n. (Chem.) That branch of chemistry which deals with the isolation, identification, structure elucidation, and study of the chemical characteristics of chemical substances produced by living organisms. [ PJC ]

. Steel made by the direct refining of cast iron in a finery, or, as wootz, by a direct process from the ore. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. To endow with natural qualities. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ God ] which natureth every kind. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. natura, fr. natus born, produced, p. p. of nasci to be born. See Nation. ] 1. The existing system of things; the universe of matter, energy, time and space; the physical world; all of creation. Contrasted with the world of mankind, with its mental and social phenomena. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

But looks through nature up to nature's God. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

When, in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bonds which have connected them with another, ans to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal Station which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to the Separation. Declaration of Independence

Nature has caprices which art can not imitate. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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; as, produced by nature; the forces of nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

I oft admire
How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit
Such disproportions. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience. [ 1913 Webster ]

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem,
Their nature also to thy nature join,
And be thyself man among men on earth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dispute of this nature caused mischief. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life. “My days of nature.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oppressed nature sleeps. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Natural affection or reverence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Have we not seen
The murdering son ascend his parent's bed,
Through violated nature force his way? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Constitution or quality of mind or character. [ 1913 Webster ]

A born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

That reverence which is due to a superior nature. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

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; uncivilized. --
Nature printing, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having (such) a nature, temper, or disposition; disposed; -- used in composition; as, good-natured, ill-natured, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not in accordance with nature; unnatural. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) The belief or doctrine that attributes everything to nature as a sanative agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who believes in, or conforms to, the theory of naturism. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being produced by nature. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To endow with a nature or qualities; to refer to nature. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]