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Initial vs Natural - What's the difference?

initial | natural | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between initial and natural

is that initial is chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin while natural is that exists and evolved within the confines of an ecosystem.

As nouns the difference between initial and natural

is that initial is the first letter of a word or a name while natural is a native inhabitant of a place, country etc.

As a verb initial

is to sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

initial

Adjective

(-)
  • Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
  • :
  • :
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial , a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
  • Synonyms

    * incipient * opening

    Antonyms

    * final

    Derived terms

    * initially * initialness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The first letter of a word or a name.
  • In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit
  • You can get your initials printed at the top.
  • (typesetting, calligraphy) A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
  • (phonology) onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
  • Synonyms

    * drop cap, versal

    Derived terms

    * initialism * initial teaching alphabet

    Verb

  • To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
  • Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.

    See also

    * middle

    natural

    Alternative forms

    * naturall (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • That exists and evolved within the confines of an ecosystem.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-21, author= Karen McVeigh
  • , volume=189, issue=2, page=10, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= US rules human genes can't be patented , passage=The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation.}}
  • Of or relating to nature.
  • Without artificial additives.
  • As expected; reasonable.
  • His prison sentence was the natural consequence of a life of crime.
  • * Addison
  • What can be more natural than the circumstances in the behaviour of those women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day?
  • (music) Neither sharp nor flat. Denoted .
  • (music) Produced by natural organs, such as those of the human throat, in distinction from instrumental music.
  • (music) Applied to an air or modulation of harmony which moves by easy and smooth transitions, digressing but little from the original key.
  • Without, or prior to, modification or adjustment.
  • the natural motion of a gravitating body
  • * Macaulay
  • with strong natural sense, and rare force of will
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=5 citation , passage=Mr. Campion appeared suitably impressed and she warmed to him. He was very easy to talk to with those long clown lines in his pale face, a natural goon, born rather too early she suspected.}}
  • Having the character or sentiments properly belonging to one's position; not unnatural in feelings.
  • * Shakespeare
  • To leave his wife, to leave his babes, / He wants the natural touch.
  • (obsolete) Connected by the ties of consanguinity.
  • * J. H. Newman
  • natural friends
  • (obsolete) Born out of wedlock; illegitimate; bastard.
  • a natural child
  • (of sexual intercourse) Without a condom.
  • Synonyms

    * (as expected) inevitable, necessary, reasonable * (without a condom)

    Antonyms

    * (exists in an ecosystem) aberrant, abnormal, artificial * (as expected) aberrant, abnormal, freak, unexpected, unreasonable

    Derived terms

    * naturally * naturalness * natural advantages * natural aging * natural breast * natural business year * natural child * natural childbirth * natural daughter * natural death * natural disaster * natural fiber * natural food * natural frequency * natural gas * natural historian * natural history * natural killer cell * natural language * natural language processing * natural law * natural light * natural logarithm * natural medicine * natural monopoly * natural number * natural philosophy * natural religion * natural resources * natural scale * natural science * natural selection * natural slope * natural son * natural theology * natural virtue * natural wastage * natural world * natural-born * naturalise/naturalize * naturalist * unnatural

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • * 1615 , Ralph Hamor, A True Discourse of the Present State of Virginia , Richmond 1957, page 3:
  • I coniecture and assure my selfe that yee cannot be ignorant by what meanes this peace hath bin thus happily both for our proceedings and the welfare of the Naturals concluded [...].
  • (music) A note that is not or is no longer to be modified by an accidental, or the symbol used to indicate such a note.
  • One with an innate talent at or for something.
  • He's a natural on the saxophone.
  • An almost white colour, with tints of grey, yellow or brown; originally that of natural fabric.
  • (archaic) One with a simple mind; a fool or idiot.
  • * 1597 , , by Shakespeare, Act 2 Scene 4
  • (Mercutio) [...] this drivelling love is like a great natural , / that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole.
  • One's natural life.
  • * 1929 , (Frederic Manning), The Middle Parts of Fortune , Vintage 2014, page 155:
  • *:‘Sergeant-Major Robinson came in in the middle of it, and you've never seen a man look more surprised in your natural .’
  • See also

    *

    Statistics

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