| innate | 1. Inborn; native; natural; as, innate vigor; innate eloquence. 2. <psychology> Originating in, or derived from, the constitution of the intellect, as opposed to acquired from experience; as, innate ideas. See A priori, Intuitive. "There is an innate light in every man, discovering to him the first lines of duty in the common notions of good and evil." (South) "Men would not be guilty if they did not carry in their mind common notions of morality,innate and written in divine letters." (Fleming (Origen)) "If I could only show,as I hope I shall . . . How men, barely by the use of their natural faculties, may attain to all the knowledge they have, without the help of any innate impressions; and may arrive at certainty without any such original notions or principles." (Locke) 3. <botany> Joined by the base to the very tip of a filament; as, an innate anther. <psychology> Innate ideas, ideas, as of God, immortality, right and wrong, supposed by some to be inherent in the mind, as a priori principles of knowledge. Origin: L. Innatus; pref. In- in + natus born, p.p. Of nasci to be born. See Native. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| innate heat | In ancient Greek medicine, the heat of the heart sustained by the pneuma and distributed by the arteries throughout the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| innate immunity | This includes local barriers to infection such as skin, stomach acid, mucous, the cough reflex, enzymes in tears and saliva and skin oils. (27 Sep 1997) |
| innate reflex | An unlearned or instinctive reflex such as sucking, which is present at birth. (05 Mar 2000) |