unnatural etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: unnatural, from Old French: unnaturel, from Latin: innaturalis, from in- ("not") + naturalis ("natural")

Meaning:

• Not in accordance with nature; abnormal, artificial, or forced
• Not belonging or related by nature or birth; not legitimate

Origin:

The term "unnatural" emerged in the 14th century as a way to describe actions or things that deviated from the perceived order and harmony of nature. It was initially applied to situations considered to violate the established laws of nature, such as the birth of a child with deformities or the mating of animals of different species.

Over time, the meaning of "unnatural" expanded to encompass any behavior or circumstance that was perceived as going against the grain of expected natural or societal norms. It has been used to condemn everything from homosexuality to adultery to the use of artificial sweeteners.

In modern usage, "unnatural" often carries negative connotations, implying that something is somehow wrong or inferior because it fails to conform to what is considered to be natural. However, some philosophers and activists have argued that the concept of the natural is socially constructed and that there is no inherent reason to privilege it over the unnatural.

unnatural relate terms

• natural

  Etymology The word natural comes from the Latin word natura which has a complex an

• nature

  Etymology The word nature ultimately derives from the Latin word natura which means

• history

  Etymology Greek ἱστορία historia inquiry knowledge acquired by investigati

• supernatural

  Etymology The word supernatural is derived from the Latin phrase supernatūrālis wh

• nature

  Etymology The word nature ultimately derives from the Latin word natura which means

• supernal

  Etymology Latin supernalis adjective super above nalis relating to Ultima

• supernal

  Etymology Latin supernalis adjective super above nalis relating to Ultima

• preternatural

  Etymology The word preternatural derives from the Late Latin praeternaturalis meani

• unnatural

  Etymology Middle English unnatural from Old French unnaturel from Latin innaturali

• prodigious

  Etymology The word prodigious comes from the Latin word prodigium meaning a portent

• inconvenient

  Etymology The word inconvenient is derived from the Latin prefix in meaning not

• palpitation

  Etymology Latin palpitare to throb tremble From palpare to touch feel gently

• deformity

  Etymology Latin deformis meaning deformed misshapen From de meaning away fr

• congestion

  Etymology Congestion derives from the Latin word congestus meaning heaped up crowd

• catchy

  Word Serendipity Etymology Coined by Horace Walpole in 1754 Derived from the Persian

• normal

  Etymology The word normal derives from the Latin word normalis which means conformi

• camouflage

  Etymology Camouflage comes from the French word camoufler meaning to disguise onese

• smorgasbord

  Etymology The word smorgasbord comes from the Swedish words smör butter and gåsb