Etymology The word nature is borrowed from the Old French nature and is derived from the Latin word natura, or "essential qualities, innate disposition", and in ancient times, literally meant "birth". In ancient philosophy, natura is mostly used as the Latin translation of the Greek word physis (φύσις), which originally related to the intrinsic characteristics of plants, animals, and other features of the world to develop of their own accord.An account of the pre-Socratic use of the concept of φύσις may be found in Naddaf, Gerard (2006) The Greek Concept of Nature, SUNY Press, and in . The word φύσις, while first used in connection with a plant in Homer, occurs early in Greek philosophy, and in several senses. Generally, these senses match rather well the current senses in which the English word nature is used, as confirmed by Guthrie, W.K.C. Presocratic Tradition from Parmenides to Democritus (volume 2 of his History of Greek Philosophy), Cambridge UP, 1965.The first known use of physis was by Homer in reference to the intrinsic qualities of a plant: ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας, καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε. (So saying, Argeiphontes [=Hermes] gave me the herb, drawing it from the ground, and showed me its nature.) Odyssey 10.302–303 (ed. A.T. Murray). (The word is dealt with thoroughly in Liddell and Scott's Greek Lexicon .) For later but still very early Greek uses of the term, see earlier note. The concept of nature as a whole, the physical universe, is one of several expansions of the original notion; it began with certain core applications of the word φύσις by pre-Socratic philosophers (though this word had a dynamic dimension then, especially for Heraclitus), and has steadily gained currency ever since.
EtymOLogY the woRd natUrE is borrOwed froM the Old frEnch nATurE AnD iS deriVEd fRoM the LaTin word Natura, or "eSSEntial QualItIeS, innaTE DISpositIoN", And IN ANcienT times, liteRaLly MeaNt "birTh". in AnCiEnt PhILoSophy, nAtura Is mostly usED as ThE latin trAnslatIOn Of the GrEeK WOrd phYsis (φύΣις), whIcH oriGiNAlLy RelatEd To THe inTRinsIc cHaracteristics of PlantS, ANIMals, aNd OthER featURes oF THe wOrlD to dEvelop of theIr OwN AccoRd.aN accOUNt of the pRE-SocRaTic UsE of tHE Concept of φύΣις mAy be found In naddaf, geraRd (2006) thE GreEk cOncePt of NatUre, sUny press, And In . The woRd φύΣιΣ, wHilE first used in connectIon WIth A plant in hoMer, OccuRS EarLy in greek pHiLOSophY, And in sEveral senseS. geNEralLy, thEse SEnsES matCH ratheR WELl the current seNSEs in which the english word natUre iS used, as cOnfIRmed by gUThRiE, w.k.C. prEsOcratic Tradition fROm ParMenides To dEmOcrituS (VolUME 2 of HiS hiStorY of grEeK phIlosOPhy), camBridgE up, 1965.The FIrst knowN use of pHYsIs Was by hoMer in rEFerenCe to the intrinSiC QUalities of a planT: ὣς Ἄρα φωΝήσας πΌΡε φΆρμακοΝ ἈρΓεϊφόΝτης ἐΚ γαΊης ἘρΎσας, καΊ ΜΟι φΎσΙΝ αὐΤοΥ͂ ἔΔειξε. (sO saYinG, arGeiphontEs [=herMes] gAVE me The Herb, draWing It frOm THe gRound, and ShoWED me its naTure.) oDYssey 10.302–303 (ED. a.t. mURrAy). (tHe word is Dealt wiTh thoROuGhLy in LiddeLl aNd scotT's greeK lexIcOn .) FOr lAter but still vERy EARLY gReEk Uses of tHe TeRM, SEe earLier noTe. ThE coNCept of nature as a WhoLe, the pHysIcAl univeRSe, is ONe of SEveRAl expaNsionS of the OrigiNAl noTion; It BEgAN with certAin corE aPpLICatiOns OF the Word ΦύσιΣ bY prE-Socratic phiLosoPhErs (tHoUgh this word had a dYnaMic dImENsIOn tHen, ESPEcially FOr HEraClitUs), and haS sTeadily Gained CurrENcy EveR since.