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Innateness

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia 0.01 sec.
in·nate  (-nt, nt)
adj.
1. Possessed at birth; inborn.
2. Possessed as an essential characteristic; inherent.
3. Of or produced by the mind rather than learned through experience: an innate knowledge of right and wrong.

[Middle English innat, from Latin inntus, past participle of innsc, to be born in : in-, in; see in-2 + nsc, to be born; see gen- in Indo-European roots.]

in·nately adv.
in·nateness n.
Synonyms: innate, inborn, inbred, congenital, hereditary
These adjectives mean existing in a person or thing from birth or origin. Something that is innate seems essential to the nature, character, or constitution: innate common sense.
Inborn strongly implies that something has been present since birth: inborn intelligence.
What is inbred has often been ingrained through earliest training or associations: an inbred love of music.
Congenital is applied principally to characteristics, especially defects, acquired during fetal development: a congenital disease.
It is also used figuratively of characteristics or people with characteristics that are so deep-seated as to appear natural: a congenital pessimism; a congenital liar.
Hereditary refers to what is transmitted by biological heredity (a hereditary heart anomaly) or by tradition: "that ignorance and superstitiousness hereditary to all sailors" (Herman Melville).
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.innateness - the quality of being innate
unchangeability, unchangeableness, unchangingness, changelessness - the quality of being unchangeable; having a marked tendency to remain unchanged


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``Predilection'' keeps homosexuality in the lesser realm of ``preference,'' rather than in the higher state of ``natural innateness.
Advocates of the innateness hypothesis argue that babies up to 6 months old can't systematically track objects with their eyes, even though babies of that age do realize that, say, a ball that rolls behind a screen should be visible when the screen is removed.
``There's got to be an innateness about you, that you like the toughness and hitting people,'' Kerr said.
 
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