Na·ture n.
 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.
    But looks through nature up to nature's God.   --Pope.
    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.
 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.
 I oft admire
 How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit
 Such disproportions.   --Milton.
 3. The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
 4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
    One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.   --Shak.
 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.
 Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem,
 Their nature also to thy nature join,
 And be thyself man among men on earth.   --Milton.
 6. Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality.
    A dispute of this nature caused mischief.   --Dryden.
 7. Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life. “My days of nature.”
    Oppressed nature sleeps.   --Shak.
 8. Natural affection or reverence.
 Have we not seen
 The murdering son ascend his parent's bed,
 Through violated nature force his way?   --Pope.
 9. Constitution or quality of mind or character.
 A born devil, on whose nature
 Nurture can never stick.   --Shak.
    That reverence which is due to a superior nature.   --Addison.
 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.
 Ill a. [The regular comparative and superlative are wanting, their places being supplied by worse and worst from another root.]
 1. Contrary to good, in a physical sense; contrary or opposed to advantage, happiness, etc.; bad; evil; unfortunate; disagreeable; unfavorable.
    Neither is it ill air only that maketh an ill seat, but ill ways, ill markets, and ill neighbors.   --Bacon.
    There 's some ill planet reigns.   --Shak.
 2. Contrary to good, in a moral sense; evil; wicked; wrong; iniquitious; naughtly; bad; improper.
 Of his own body he was ill, and gave
 The clergy ill example.   --Shak.
 3. Sick; indisposed; unwell; diseased; disordered; as, ill of a fever.
    I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill.   --Shak.
 4. Not according with rule, fitness, or propriety; incorrect; rude; unpolished; inelegant.
    That 's an ill phrase.   --Shak.
 Ill at ease, uneasy; uncomfortable; anxious. “I am very ill at ease.” --Shak.
 Ill blood, enmity; resentment; bad blood.
 Ill breeding, lack of good breeding; rudeness.
 Ill fame, ill or bad repute; as, a house of ill fame, a house where lewd persons meet for illicit intercourse.
 Ill humor, a disagreeable mood; bad temper.
 Ill nature, bad disposition or temperament; sullenness; esp., a disposition to cause unhappiness to others.
 Ill temper, anger; moroseness; crossness.
 Ill turn. (a) An unkind act. (b) A slight attack of illness. [Colloq. U.S.]
 Ill will, unkindness; enmity; malevolence.
 Syn: -- Bad; evil; wrong; wicked; sick; unwell.
 ill nature
      n : a disagreeable, irritable, or malevolent disposition [ant: good
          nature]