Word
nativity
Phoneticsna·tiv·i·ty
US/nəˈtɪvəti/
UK/nɐtˈɪvɪti/
Definition
n. the birth of a person, especially the birth of Jesus Christ. It often refers to the story or a play about this event.
n. the occasion of a person's birth; specifically, the birth of Jesus Christ. Often used to refer to artistic or theatrical representations of the biblical birth narrative.
Examples
“The children are practicing for the school nativity play.”
“Every December, the town square features a large nativity scene with wooden figures of the holy family.”
“Renaissance painters often focused on the nativity as a central theme, using light and shadow to emphasize the divinity of the newborn child within a humble stable setting.”
Examples
simple
“The children are practicing for the school nativity play.”
contextual
“Every December, the town square features a large nativity scene with wooden figures of the holy family.”
complex
“Renaissance painters often focused on the nativity as a central theme, using light and shadow to emphasize the divinity of the newborn child within a humble stable setting.”
Usage
Capitalized as 'the Nativity' when referring specifically to the birth of Jesus; lowercase for the general concept of birth.
Etymology
See nativity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.