natural English · revision 3426

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250 (Genesis and Exodus)|origins=la nātūra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈnætʃ.ər.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|naturel]], [[bor|fro|naturel]], [[m|fro|natural|t=of nature; by birth]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and directly from [[la|nātūrālis|t=by birth, according to nature]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|nātūra|t=nature]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source of [[nature]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Produced by nature, inborn: about 1250, in ''Genesis and Exodus'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1300 as “of one's inborn character, hereditary”.^(Etymonline) Natural law or justice, felt instinctively to be right, is from the 14th century.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Of the world of nature” is from the early 14th century, of events “existing as a result of natural forces” from the late 14th, and of objects “not artificial” from about 1400.^(Etymonline) As a euphemism for an illegitimate child it is from about 1400, on the notion of blood kinship.^(Etymonline) “Not miraculous, in conformity with nature” is from the late 15th century, hence “easy, free from affectation” about 1600.^(Etymonline) ''Natural science'' and ''natural law'' are from the late 14th century, and ''natural history'' from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) In music a natural note is from 1727–38.^(OED 1989) The noun meant “natural capacity” in Middle English, “a native” in Shakespeare's day, and “a half-wit” from the 16th to the 19th century;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the opposite sense “a person with a natural talent” is from 1925, first in boxing.^(Etymonline) ''Natural selection'' is Darwin's term.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – produced by nature.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – of the world of nature.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – ''natural science''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – not artificial; illegitimate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1533 – noun, a half-wit.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1600 – unaffected.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1925 – noun, a natural talent.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Existing in or produced by [[nature]]; not artificial.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of or relating to nature or the study of it.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # In accordance with the usual course of nature; normal; to be expected.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Inborn; [[innate]]; having a character by nature.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Free from affectation; unaffected.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(music)'' Neither sharp nor flat.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person naturally suited to something: ''a natural at golf''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(music)'' The sign (♮) cancelling a sharp or flat; a note so affected.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[naturalness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[antenatal]]

+ * [[innate]]

+ * [[nascent]]

+ * [[natal]]

+ * [[native]]

+ * [[nativity]]

+ * [[nativism]]

+ * [[naturism]]

+ * [[naturalism]]

+ * [[prenatal]]

+ * [[au naturel]]

+ * [[nature]]

+ * [[naturalist]]

+ * [[naturalize]]

+ * [[nation]]

+ * [[supernatural]]

+ * [[unnatural]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}