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nativity
[ nuh-tiv-i-tee, ney- ]
noun
- birth with reference to place or attendant circumstances:
of Irish nativity.
- (initial capital letter) the birth of Christ.
- (initial capital letter) the church festival commemorating the birth of Christ; Christmas.
- (initial capital letter) a representation of the birth of Christ, as in art.
- Astrology. a horoscope of a person's birth.
Nativity
1/ nəˈtɪvɪtɪ /
noun
- the birth of Jesus Christ
- the feast of Christmas as a commemoration of this
- an artistic representation of the circumstances of the birth of Christ
- ( as modifier )
a Nativity play
nativity
2/ nəˈtɪvɪtɪ /
noun
- birth or origin, esp in relation to the circumstances surrounding it
Nativity
- The birth of Jesus , described in two of the Gospels ( Matthew and Luke ). When Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph , traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted in a government census, they found that there was no room for them in the local inn. Mary gave birth to Jesus in a common stable and laid him in a manger (a feeding trough for livestock). Christians (see also Christian ) believe that Jesus' birth fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies and was attended by miraculous events, such as a star above Bethlehem that drew local shepherds as well as the Wise Men , or Magi , from a distant land.
Notes
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of nativity1
Example Sentences
"The resources for the nativity play never arrived," she said.
"The hustle, the bustle, a hive of activity. Not the typical scene of your Christmas nativity," Oldman reads.
Instead of having a candy-filled calendar, some Latino families will create an extended nativity scene at the beginning of Advent with the wise men placed far away in the room, González-Andrieu said.
The day after the stabbing attack on a bishop, a forensics expert was sweeping a fingerprint brush over a nativity scene by the entrance of the Sydney church.
Stevens, who 11 years ago made national news when he installed a Festivus pole made out of beer cans across from a nativity scene displayed in the Capitol, was delighted DeSantis’ office singled him out.
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Related Words
More About Nativity
What does nativity mean?
Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus, the central figure of the religion of Christianity.
Christians celebrate the Nativity during Christmas, and the word is sometimes used as another name for Christmas.
Nativity can also be used to refer to an artistic depiction of the birth of Jesus, such as in a play (also called a Nativity play) or a scene involving statues of the figures at the birth (also called a Nativity scene). In all of these uses, the word is usually capitalized.
The word nativity is also used in some more general ways, though they are less common. It can simply mean a birth, especially in relation to the circumstances of it. It can also be used to refer to a person’s birthplace, as in Zoe often mentions her Greek nativity.
More specifically, in the context of astrology, one’s nativity is the horoscope of their birth.
Example: Every year at Christmas we create a live Nativity in our front yard, with our dog playing the part of a sheep.
Where does nativity come from?
The first records of the word nativity come from before 1150. It comes from the Middle French nativite, meaning “the feast of the birth of Jesus.” It ultimately derives from the Latin nātivitās, meaning “birth.”
Although nativity can mean “birth” or “birthplace,” it’s not commonly used in this way. Today, it usually specifically refers to the birth of Jesus Christ or something involving his birth, even when it’s lowercase. The story of Jesus’s birth is sometimes called the Nativity story and it is told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament of the Bible.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to nativity?
- nativities (plural)
What are some synonyms for nativity?
- Nativity scene
- Nativity play
- Christmas
- birth
- birthplace
What are some words that share a root or word element with nativity?
What are some words that often get used in discussing nativity?
How is nativity used in real life?
Nativity is almost always used in reference to the birth of Jesus Christ or depictions or stories of the event.
Mom just called and her kitten, Princess Charlotte, keeps taking the shepherd pieces out of the nativity display. 🐱😀
— Louetta Wilson (@WilsonLouetta) December 18, 2018
Sitting in a sleigh in front of Jesus's Nativity at St.Leon Armenian Church in Burbank! 😊😍❤️👶🏻🦌🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/9xaqas6vsy
— Meline Hambartsumyan (@MelineMHMusic) December 29, 2017
There was a Lego Nativity Set and the outdoor lights were stunning. pic.twitter.com/uakAFdcbx2
— Anthony Selvanathan (@aselvanathan_) December 29, 2019
Try using nativity!
Which of the following words can be a synonym of nativity?
A. birth
B. death
C. development
D. adulthood
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