n. (pl. -ies)
1. (esp. the Nativity) a the birth of Christ. b the festival of Christ's birth; Christmas.
2 a picture of the Nativity.
3 birth.
4 the horoscope at a person's birth.
5 a the birth of the Virgin Mary or St John the Baptist. b the festival of the nativity of the Virgin (8 Sept.) or St John (24 June).
Phrases and idioms:
nativity play a play usu. performed by children at Christmas dealing with the birth of Christ.
Etymology: ME f. OF nativit{eacute} f. LL nativitas -tatis f. L (as NATIVE)