a natural child
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
One not born in lawful wedlock. The Romans called the children of concubines naturales, children according to nature, and not according to law.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a natural child” mean?
One not born in lawful wedlock. The Romans called the children of concubines naturales, children according to nature, and not according to law.
Is “a natural child” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.