φύσις φύσις (ῠ), εως, φύω the nature, natural qualities, powers, constitution, condition, of a person or thing, Od., Hdt., Attic like φυή, form, stature, ἢ νόον ἤ τοι φύσιν either in mind or outward form, Pind.; τὸν δὲ Λάϊον, φύσιν τίνʼ εἶχε, φράζε Soph.; τὴν ἐμὴν ἰδὼν φύσιν Ar. of the mind, oneʼs nature, natural bent, powers, character, Soph., etc. often periphr., πέτρου φύσιν σύ γʼ ὀργάνειας, i. e. wouldʼst provoke a stone, Soph.; ἡ φ. αὐτοῦ for αὐτός, Plat. nature, i. e. the order or law of nature, κατὰ φύσιν πεφυκέναι to be made so by nature, naturally, Hdt., etc.;—opp. to παρὰ φύσιν, Eur., Thuc.; so, προδότης ἐκ φύσεως a traitor by nature, Aeschin.:—so, in dat. φύσει, by nature, naturally, Ar., etc.:—φύσιν ἔχει, c. inf., it is natural that . . , Hdt., Plat. origin, birth, φύσει γεγονότες εὖ Hdt.; φ. νεώτερος Soph.; so, τὴν φύσιν Xen. nature, universe, Plat., Arist. as a concrete term, creatures, animals (cf. φύστις) , θνητὴ φ. man kind, Soph.; πόντου εἰναλία φ. the creatures of the sea, Soph.; θήλεια φ. woman- kind, Xen.; οἱ τοιαῦται φύσεις such creatures as these, Isocr. a nature, kind, sort, βιοτῆς φύσις Soph.: species, Xen. sex, Soph., Thuc.