naturalism
UK[ˈnætʃrəlɪzəm]US[ˈnætʃrəlɪzəm]
n
a style in art or literature that tries to show the world and people exactly as they are, without idealizing them.
n
the philosophical belief that everything arises from natural properties and causes, and supernatural or spiritual explanations are excluded or discounted.
Morpheme Breakdown
natur
al
ism
natur
nature
al
adjective suffix
ism
doctrine or system
Etymology
the word naturalism is a modern philosophical and artistic term constructed from classical components. its foundation, 'nature', traces back to latin 'natura', itself from 'natus', meaning 'born', reflecting the ancient concept of inherent qualities and the physical world. the adjective-forming suffix '-al' was attached to create 'natural', meaning 'of or according to nature'. finally, the abstract noun suffix '-ism', of greek origin via latin, was appended to denote a systematic doctrine or movement. thus, the literal construction "pertaining to nature" + "system" evolved to signify the specific doctrines that explain the world solely through natural forces or represent it with meticulous realism.
Analysis
Structure: natur (nature) + al (adjective suffix) + ism (doctrine or system)
natur: from latin 'natura' (birth, character, the natural world), serves as the core noun root.
al: a latin-derived suffix forming adjectives meaning "of or pertaining to".
ism: a greek-derived suffix forming nouns denoting a distinctive system, theory, or practice.
Examples
the novelist's commitment to naturalism was evident in his detailed, unflinching portraits of urban poverty.
philosophical naturalism rejects the idea of any supernatural intervention in the universe.
her paintings moved from romanticism to a stricter naturalism, focusing on precise light and form.