Sloth \Sloth\, n. [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl?w?, fr. sl[=a]w
   slow. See Slow.]
   1. Slowness; tardiness.
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            These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor
            This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome. --Shak.
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   2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness;
      idleness.
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            [They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and
            sloth.                                --Milton.
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            Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears.
                                                  --Franklin.
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   3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of arboreal edentates
      constituting the family Bradypodidae, and the suborder
      Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long
      prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see
      Illust. of Edentata), and the ears and tail are
      rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and
      Mexico.
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   Note: The three-toed sloths belong to the genera Bradypus
         and Arctopithecus, of which several species have been
         described. They have three toes on each foot. The
         best-known species are collared sloth (Bradypus
         tridactylus), and the ai (Arctopitheus ai). The
         two-toed sloths, consisting the genus Cholopus, have
         two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot.
         The best-known is the unau (Cholopus didactylus) of
         South America. See Unau. Another species (Cholopus
         Hoffmanni) inhabits Central America.
         Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as
         Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths.
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   Australian sloth, or Native sloth (Zool.), the koala.

   Sloth animalcule (Zool.), a tardigrade.

   Sloth bear (Zool.), a black or brown long-haired bear
      (Melursus ursinus, or Melursus labiatus), native of
      India and Ceylon; -- called also aswail, labiated
      bear, and jungle bear. It is easily tamed and can be
      taught many tricks.

   Sloth monkey (Zool.), a loris.
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Koala \Ko*a"la\, n.
   A tailless furry marsupial (Phascolarctos cinereus), found
   in Australia. The female carries her young on the back of her
   neck. Called also Australian bear, koala bear, native
   bear, and native sloth. The koala lives almost all of its
   life in trees, moves sluggishly like a sloth, and eats
   eucalyptus leaves almost exclusively.
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Native \Na"tive\ (n[=a]"t[i^]v), a. [F. natif, L. nativus, fr.
   nasci, p. p. natus. See Nation, and cf. Na["i]ve, Neif
   a serf.]
   1. Arising by birth; having an origin; born. [Obs.]
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            Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native,
            rising and vanishing again in long periods of times.
                                                  --Cudworth.
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   2. Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the
      place or the circumstances in which one is born; --
      opposed to foreign; as, native land, language, color,
      etc.
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   3. Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native
      inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where
      used or sold; not foreign or imported; as, native
      oysters, or strawberries. In the latter sense, synonymous
      with domestic.
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   4. Original; constituting the original substance of anything;
      as, native dust. --Milton.
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   5. Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one;
      inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius,
      cheerfulness, wit, simplicity, rights, intelligence, etc.
      Having the same meaning as congenital, but typically
      used for positive qualities, whereas congenital may be
      used for negative qualities. See also congenital
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            Courage is native to you.             --Jowett
                                                  (Thucyd.).
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   6. Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). [R.]
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            the head is not more native to the heart, . . .
            Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. --Shak.
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   7. (Min.)
      (a) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as,
          native silver, copper, gold.
      (b) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium
          chloride.
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   Native American party. See under American, a.

   Native bear (Zool.), the koala.

   Native bread (Bot.), a large underground fungus, of
      Australia (Mylitta australis), somewhat resembling a
      truffle, but much larger.

   Native devil. (Zool.) Same as Tasmanian devil, under
      Devil.

   Native hen (Zool.), an Australian rail (Tribonyx
      Mortierii).

   Native pheasant. (Zool.) See Leipoa.

   Native rabbit (Zool.), an Australian marsupial (Perameles
      lagotis) resembling a rabbit in size and form.

   Native sloth (Zool.), the koala.

   Native thrush (Zool.), an Australian singing bird
      (Pachycephala olivacea); -- called also thickhead.

   Native turkey (Zool.), the Australian bustard (Choriotis
      australis); -- called also bebilya.
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   Syn: Natural; natal; original; congenital.

   Usage: Native, Natural, Natal. natural refers to the
          nature of a thing, or that which springs therefrom;
          native, to one's birth or origin; as, a native
          country, language, etc.; natal, to the circumstances
          of one's birth; as, a natal day, or star. Native
          talent is that which is inborn; natural talent is that
          which springs from the structure of the mind. Native
          eloquence is the result of strong innate emotion;
          natural eloquence is opposed to that which is studied
          or artificial.
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