lusus naturae
/ˈluːsəs nəˈtjʊəɹiː/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.21 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A sportive quality in Nature to which abnormal forms were formerly ascribed; a supposed capricious act of Nature regarded as the cause and origin of anomalies in a given organism.
noun
An organism exhibiting marked such deviation from the norm, seeming to be the result of sportive design; a freak of nature.
Countable
Example Sentences
- "[…]I have obſerv'd ſome meſhes to have 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. ſides, and ſome to have onely one, ſo exceeding various is the Luſus Naturæ in this body."
- "After much Debate, they concluded unanimously, that I was only Relplum Scalcath, which is interpreted literally, Luſus Naturæ; a Determination exactly agreeable to the modern Philoſophy of Europe, whose Profeſſors, diſdaining the old Evaſion of occult Cauſes, whereby the Followers of Ariſtotle endeavour in vain to diſguiſe their Ignorance, have invented this wonderful Solution of all Difficulties, to the unſpeakable Advancement of human Knowledge."
- "All men, the monster and the lusus naturæ excepted, have a certain form, a certain complement of limbs, a certain internal structure, and organs of sense—may we not add further, certain powers of intellect?"
- "I was a lusus naturæ, she affirmed, as a village-schoolmistress: she was sure my previous history, if known, would make a delightful romance."
- "Of “Lusus naturæ” none is more curious than that of duplication of the lower extremities. Paré says that on January 9, 1529, there was living in Germany a male infant having four legs and four arms."
- ""[…"
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin lūsus nātūrae (literally “sport of Nature”), from lūsus (“playing, sport”) + nātūrae (“of Nature”), genitive singular of nātūra (“Nature”). Originally used to explain fossils (pre-paleontology) or abnormalities such as two-headed snakes.
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: /ˈluːsəs nəˈtjʊəɹiː/
Usage
Inflected Forms
lusûs naturae (plural, rare)
lusus naturæ (alternative, archaic)