better nature
1
6.6
- noun
:
mejor naturaleza
- Honestly, fairness, decency, a strong work ethic, a belief in man's better nature... these are the values I associate with my home state.
- appeal to his better nature
They become your rescuer, but they will never become your encourager or the person who sees your better nature again.
- They become your rescuer, but they will never become your encourager or the person who sees your better nature again.
- When ungrievable people die, instead of listening to the angels of our better nature, we are supposed to feel indifference or righteous coldness.
Examples
-
This must be an appeal to my better nature
-
I guess my pitiful cries for mercy appealed to their better nature.
-
Then let me appeal to your better nature.
-
Can I appeal to your better nature?
-
Appeal to their better nature.
-
I'll appeal to his better nature.
-
I don't think we can appeal to his better nature.
Fiction book (2002) -
Matthew's benevolent protection had buoyed up my better nature.
Academic text (1998) -
He was morally flawed, yes, but he believed absolutely in our better natures and always sought to better himself and to fight for what he saw as the best in our Constitution.
Blog text (1) -
Can I appeal to your better nature to help us in this difficult situation?
Synonyms
259
3.8
A good personal quality like honesty or kindness
127
3.4
Being kind and caring to other people
82
1.0
Kind, honest, and fair behaviour in a person
2
2.5
A friendly, helpful attitude that makes a person help others
1
6.9
Being honest and doing what is right
1
3.2
Being friendly, generous, and caring to other people
A moral quality people can have by nature, not given by God, like justice
A kind, friendly attitude that wants to help others
How Virtuous
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the more virtuous, kind, or principled aspect of a person's character' is directly and compositionally derived from 'better' (more good/virtuous) modifying 'nature' (a person's disposition). This comparative adjective + noun pattern is transparent and common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Better nature paints a simple picture of the more kind part inside a person: better (more good) of their nature (their usual self). So it means the 'good side' that guides someone to do the right thing.