Native

Main Entry:: ¹na·tive
Pronunciation:: \ˈnā-tiv\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Middle English natif, from Middle French, from Latin nativus, from natus, past participle of nasci to be born — more at nation
Date:: 14th century

1: inborn , innate <native talents>2: belonging to a particular place by birth <native to Wisconsin>3archaic : closely related4: belonging to or associated with one by birth5: natural , normal6 a: grown, produced, or originating in a particular place or in the vicinity : local b: living or growing naturally in a particular region : indigenous7: simple , unaffected8 a: constituting the original substance or source b: found in nature especially in an unadulterated form <mining native silver>9chiefly Australian : having a usually superficial resemblance to a specified English plant or animal10capitalized : of, relating to, or being a member of an aboriginal people of North or South America : native american

— na·tive·ly adverb

— na·tive·ness noun

synonyms native , indigenous , endemic , aboriginal mean belonging to a locality. native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it <native tribal customs>. indigenous applies to species or races and adds to native the implication of not having been introduced from elsewhere <maize is indigenous to America>. endemic implies being peculiar to a region <edelweiss is endemic in the Alps>. aboriginal implies having no known race preceding in occupancy of the region <the aboriginal peoples of Australia>.

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