: the process or circumstances of being born : birth
especially, capitalized: the birth of Jesus
2
: a horoscope at or of the time of one's birth
3
: the place of origin
Did you know?
Nativity is one of many words born of the Latin verb nasci, which means "to be born." The gestation of the word was a long one. Nasci developed in Latin into nativitas, meaning "birth," which passed through Anglo-French as nativité before entering English in the 14th century. Nativity has many siblings and cousins in our language; other terms of the lineage of nasci include cognate, innate, nascent, native, and renaissance.
my father and grandparents were proud observers of my nativity
Recent Examples on the WebThe most coveted classics represent a time but also a place, a nativity, a spirit, from which the pure product came. Dan Neil, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 The village also boast various humbler stone and wooden dwellings that resemble something from a nativity scene. Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 11 Aug. 2022 At the end of the day, there's no wrong way to depict the nativity scene over the holidays, and there are tons of gorgeous (and affordable) ways to do so. Kristen Adaway, Woman's Day, 24 July 2022 The store offers a vast array of personalized ornaments, home and outdoor décor, nativity scenes, Christmas lights and stockings. Alec Brzezinski, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2022 The next target for reversal may be the 1970s-era rulings that said cities and school districts may not openly display religious symbols on public property, including crosses, the Ten Commandments or nativity scenes at Christmas.Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2022 It was vandalized during the Spanish Civil War during the 1930s, and its nativity façade and crypt received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005. Forrest Brown, CNN, 14 June 2022 Carriage rides, live nativity, vendors, Santa, Christmas train, holiday puppet show, holiday specials and treats at local businesses. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 13 Dec. 2021 Nadia misses Ruth's death, but not her own nativity — literally giving birth to herself on a 1982 subway platform.EW.com, 20 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English nativite, from Anglo-French nativité, from Medieval Latin nativitat-, nativitas, from Late Latin, birth, from Latin nativus