lusus naturae

plural rare lusûs naturae · alternative archaic lusus naturæ

1. historicaloriginallyA sportive quality in Nature to which abnormal forms were formerly ascribed; a supposed capricious act of Nature regarded as the cause and origin of anomalies in a given organism.

   […]I have obſerv'd ſome meſhes to have 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. ſides, and ſome to have onely one, ſo exceeding various is the Luſus Naturæ in this body.

   1665, R[obert] Hooke, “Obſerv. XXII. Of common Sponges, and ſeveral other Spongiefibrous bodies.”, in Micrographia: Or Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses. […], London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 136

   1 more example

   After much Debate, they concluded unanimously, that I was only Relplum Scalcath, which is interpreted literally, Luſus Naturæ; a Determination exactly agreeable to the modern Philoſophy of Europe, whose Profeſſors, diſdaining the old Evaſion of occult Cauſes, whereby the Followers of Ariſtotle endeavour in vain to diſguiſe their Ignorance, have invented this wonderful Solution of all Difficulties, to the unſpeakable Advancement of human Knowledge.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Sent for to Court. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part II (A Voyage to Brobdingnag), page 199

   Synonyms: God's joke

2. countableAn organism exhibiting marked such deviation from the norm, seeming to be the result of sportive design; a freak of nature.

   "[…

   1916, James Branch Cabell, “The Lady of all our Dreams”, in The Certain Hour […] , New York: Robert M. McBride, page 239

   4 more examples

   All men, the monster and the lusus naturæ excepted, have a certain form, a certain complement of limbs, a certain internal structure, and organs of sense—may we not add further, certain powers of intellect?

   1831, William Godwin, Thoughts on Man […] , London: Effingham Wilson, pages 24–25

   I was a lusus naturæ, she affirmed, as a village-schoolmistress: she was sure my previous history, if known, would make a delightful romance.

   1847 October 16, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter XXXII, in Jane Eyre. […], volume III, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], →OCLC, page 139

   Of “Lusus naturæ” none is more curious than that of duplication of the lower extremities. Paré says that on January 9, 1529, there was living in Germany a male infant having four legs and four arms.

   1896, George M. Gould, Walter L. Pyle, Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine, page 193

   He avoided all company (being, as he said, ashamed to show himself, the father of a lusus naturæ, among normal, healthy human beings), and took to solitary drinking, which carried him very rapidly to his grave; […].

   1921, Aldous Huxley, Crome Yellow, London: Chatto & Windus, page 124

   Synonyms: freak of nature, lusus