Careful Words

natural (n.)

natural (adj.)

  When you wander, as you often delight to do, you wander indeed, and give never such satisfaction as the curious time requires. This is not caused by any natural defect, but first for want of election, when you, having a large and fruitful mind, should not so much labour what to speak as to find what to leave unspoken. Rich soils are often to be weeded.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Letter of Expostulation to Coke.

  His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

Old Testament: Deuteronomy xxxiv. 7.

  He does it with a better grace, but I do it more natural.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Twelfth Night. Act ii. Sc. 3.

Whate'er he did was done with so much ease,

In him alone 't was natural to please.

John Dryden (1631-1701): Absalom and Achitophel. Part i. Line 27.

  There is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act ii. Sc. 2.

On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting;

'T was only that when he was off he was acting.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774): Retaliation. Line 101.

  I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term Natural Selection.

Charles Darwin (1809-1882): The Origin of Species. Chap. iii.

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain

That has been, and may be again.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850): The Solitary Reaper.

Some natural tears they dropp'd, but wip'd them soon;

The world was all before them, where to choose

Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.

They hand in hand, with wand'ring steps and slow,

Through Eden took their solitary way.

John Milton (1608-1674): Paradise Lost. Book xii. Line 645.