I.birth.
I. Lit. (very rare): “naturā tu illi pater es, consiliis ego,” Ter. Ad. 1, 2, 46; cf.: “naturā pater,” id. ib. 5, 7, 4.—
II. Transf. (freq. and class.; syn.: indoles, ingenium).
A. The nature, i. e. the natural constitution, property, or quality of a thing: “quod autem animal est, id motu cietur interiore et suo: nam haec est natura propria animae et vis,” Cic. Rep. 6, 26, 28: “ipsumque per se sua vi, sua natura, sua sponte laudabile,” id. Fin. 2, 15, 50: “ab ipsa natura loci,” id. Agr. 2, 35, 95: “quali esset natura montis, qui cognoscerent misit,” Caes. B. G. 1, 21: “loci,” id. ib. 1, 2: tigna secundum naturam fluminis procumberent, according to the nature or natural course of the river, Caes. B. G. 4, 17: insula naturā triquetra, by nature, i. e. in shape, id. ib. 5, 13: “naturas apibus quas Juppiter ipse Addidit expediam,” Verg. G. 4, 149.—
2. Of character, nature, natural disposition, inclination, bent, temper, character: “cognitum per te ipsum, quae tua natura est, dignum tuā amicitiā judicabis,” Cic. Fam. 13, 78, 2: “prolixa beneficaque,” id. ib. 3, 8, 8; Liv. 22, 59: mihi benefacere jam ex consuetudine in naturam vertit, has become natural, Sall. J. 85, 9.—Prov.: “consuetudo est secunda natura,” August. adv. Jul. 5, 59 fin.; Macr. S. 7, 9, 7; cf.: “voluptatem consuetudine quasi alteram naturam effici,” Cic. Fin. 5, 25, 74: “naturam expellas furcā, tamen usque recurret,” Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 24: “facere sibi naturam alicujus rei,” to accustom one's self to a thing, Quint. 2, 4, 17: “desideria naturae satiare,” Cic. Fin. 2, 8, 25.—
B. The nature, course, or order of things: “quod rerum natura non patitur,” Cic. Ac. 2, 17, 55: “delabi ad aequitatem et ad rerum naturam,” id. Fam. 6, 10, 5: “naturae satisfacere,” i. e. to die, Cic. Clu. 10, 29; so, “naturae concedere,” Sall. J. 14, 15:—Personified: “quis vero opifex praeter naturam, quā nihil potest esse callidius, tantam sollertiam persequi potuisset in sensibus? quae primum oculos membranis tenuissimis vestivit, etc.,” Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 142: “frui primis a natura datis,” id. Fin. 2, 11, 34: “homines rationem habent a naturā datam,” id. ib. 2, 14, 45: “et homini praecipui a naturā nihil datum esse dicemus,” id. ib. 2, 33, 110: “quae (membra corporum) ipsa declarant procreandi a naturā habitam esse rationem,” id. ib. 3, 19, 62: “omnis natura vult esse conservatrix sui,” id. ib. 4, 7, 16; 5, 15, 41; “5, 20, 56: illam partem bene vivendi a natura petebant, eique parendum esse dicebant,” id. Ac. 1, 5, 19.—
2. Nature, i. e. the world, the universe: “Cleanthes totius naturae menti atque animo hoc nomen (dei) tribuit,” Cic. N. D. 1, 14, 37.—
3. Nature, i. e. consistency with nature, possibility: “in rerum naturā fuisse,” Cic. Rab. Perd. 8, 24: “hoc quoque in rerum naturam cadit,” is a possible case, Quint. 2, 17, 32: “judicatum est enim, rerum naturam non recipere, ut, etc.,” that it is not in accordance with nature, not possible, Val. Max. 8, 1, abs. 13:—