from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sloth \Sloth\, n. [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl?w?, fr. sl[=a]w
slow. See {Slow}.]
1. Slowness; tardiness.
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These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor
This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome. --Shak.
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2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness;
idleness.
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[They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and
sloth. --Milton.
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Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears.
--Franklin.
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3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of arboreal edentates
constituting the family {Bradypodidae}, and the suborder
Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long
prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see
Illust. of {Edentata}), and the ears and tail are
rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and
Mexico.
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Note: The three-toed sloths belong to the genera {Bradypus}
and {Arctopithecus}, of which several species have been
described. They have three toes on each foot. The
best-known species are collared sloth ({Bradypus
tridactylus}), and the ai ({Arctopitheus ai}). The
two-toed sloths, consisting the genus {Cholopus}, have
two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot.
The best-known is the unau ({Cholopus didactylus}) of
South America. See {Unau}. Another species ({Cholopus
Hoffmanni}) inhabits Central America.
Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as
Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths.
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{Australian sloth}, or {Native sloth} (Zool.), the koala.
{Sloth animalcule} (Zool.), a tardigrade.
{Sloth bear} (Zool.), a black or brown long-haired bear
({Melursus ursinus}, or {Melursus labiatus}), native of
India and Ceylon; -- called also {aswail}, {labiated
bear}, and {jungle bear}. It is easily tamed and can be
taught many tricks.
{Sloth monkey} (Zool.), a loris.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Native \Na"tive\ (n[=a]"t[i^]v), a. [F. natif, L. nativus, fr.
nasci, p. p. natus. See {Nation}, and cf. {Na["i]ve}, {Neif}
a serf.]
1. Arising by birth; having an origin; born. [Obs.]
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Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native,
rising and vanishing again in long periods of times.
--Cudworth.
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2. Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the
place or the circumstances in which one is born; --
opposed to {foreign}; as, native land, language, color,
etc.
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3. Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native
inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where
used or sold; not foreign or {imported}; as, native
oysters, or strawberries. In the latter sense, synonymous
with {domestic}.
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4. Original; constituting the original substance of anything;
as, native dust. --Milton.
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5. Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one;
inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius,
cheerfulness, wit, simplicity, rights, intelligence, etc.
Having the same meaning as {congenital}, but typically
used for positive qualities, whereas {congenital} may be
used for negative qualities. See also {congenital}
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Courage is native to you. --Jowett
(Thucyd.).
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6. Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). [R.]
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the head is not more native to the heart, . . .
Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. --Shak.
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7. (Min.)
(a) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as,
native silver, copper, gold.
(b) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium
chloride.
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{Native American party}. See under {American}, a.
{Native bear} (Zool.), the koala.
{Native bread} (Bot.), a large underground fungus, of
Australia ({Mylitta australis}), somewhat resembling a
truffle, but much larger.
{Native devil}. (Zool.) Same as {Tasmanian devil}, under
{Devil}.
{Native hen} (Zool.), an Australian rail ({Tribonyx
Mortierii}).
{Native pheasant}. (Zool.) See {Leipoa}.
{Native rabbit} (Zool.), an Australian marsupial ({Perameles
lagotis}) resembling a rabbit in size and form.
{Native sloth} (Zool.), the koala.
{Native thrush} (Zool.), an Australian singing bird
({Pachycephala olivacea}); -- called also {thickhead}.
{Native turkey} (Zool.), the Australian bustard ({Choriotis
australis}); -- called also {bebilya}.
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Syn: Natural; natal; original; congenital.
Usage: {Native}, {Natural}, {Natal}. natural refers to the
nature of a thing, or that which springs therefrom;
native, to one's birth or origin; as, a native
country, language, etc.; natal, to the circumstances
of one's birth; as, a natal day, or star. Native
talent is that which is inborn; natural talent is that
which springs from the structure of the mind. Native
eloquence is the result of strong innate emotion;
natural eloquence is opposed to that which is studied
or artificial.
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