nativity

[ nuh-tiv-i-tee, ney- ]

noun

, plural na·tiv·i·ties.

1. birth.
2. birth with reference to place or attendant circumstances:

   of Irish nativity.

3. (initial capital letter) the birth of Christ.
4. (initial capital letter) the church festival commemorating the birth of Christ; Christmas.
5. (initial capital letter) a representation of the birth of Christ, as in art.
6. Astrology. a horoscope of a person's birth.

Nativity

¹

/ nəˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. the birth of Jesus Christ
2. the feast of Christmas as a commemoration of this
3. 1. an artistic representation of the circumstances of the birth of Christ
   2. ( as modifier )

      a Nativity play

nativity

²

/ nəˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. birth or origin, esp in relation to the circumstances surrounding it

Nativity

1. 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

The Nativity is celebrated at Christmas . We date our present historical era from the birth of Jesus, referring to the years before his birth as b.c. (before Christ ) and the years after his birth as a.d. ( anno Domini, a Latin phrase meaning “in the year of the Lord”).

Word History and Origins

Origin of nativity¹

before 1150; Middle English nativite < Middle French < Late Latin nātīvitāt- (stem of nātīvitās; native, -ity ); replacing late Old English nativiteth < Old French nativited < Late Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of nativity¹

C14: via Old French from Late Latin nātīvitas birth: see native

Example Sentences

Christians around the country will be building crèches and parents will be enthusiastically attending Nativity Plays.

From The Daily Beast

Nativity scenes “acknowledge the very real history and identity of the vast majority of our citizens.”

From The Daily Beast

But we also have a lot of films by black filmmakers coming out soon—the two Mandela films, Black Nativity, and others.

From The Daily Beast

On to the Church of the Nativity, where POTUS could meet with his Christian brothers and sisters for Easter.

From The Daily Beast

Walking through a forest one night, meditating on the Nativity, he looked through the branches of a tree and saw a star.

From The Daily Beast

But sufficient can be discerned for the grasping of the idea, which seems to be a representation of the Nativity.

From Project Gutenberg

I will judge thee in the place wherein thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.

From Project Gutenberg

Here is our nativity, and here have we the natural right to abide and be elevated through the measures of our own efforts.

From Project Gutenberg

Have one of the lieutenants open the secret files for you—it's all under 'Operation Nativity.'

From Project Gutenberg

Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite and thy mother a Hittite.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• establishment
• formation
• formulation
• production

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? 

• native
• innate
• natal

What are some words that often get used in discussing nativity?

• birth
• Jesus
• origin
• scene
• play

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