-alis

of, relating to

Forms

-alis
-aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
-al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
-ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

179 / 291

noun

naturalist

A person who practices or advocates realistic portrayals of life in art or literature.

The novelist was a committed naturalist.

Etymology

naturalLatinof nature

+istEnglisha practitioner, supporter, or associated person

Natural concerns nature or the world as it is. The artistic label identifies someone committed to depicting life through close observation and realistic detail.

More examples

The painter worked as a naturalist rather than an idealizer.
Several naturalists portrayed ordinary life without romantic embellishment.
The critic compared the naturalist with more fanciful writers.

Forms

naturalist · naturalists

Similar words

realist: A realist also favors lifelike portrayal; naturalist can identify a particular artistic or literary approach to ordinary life and its conditions.
romantic: A romantic may emphasize imagination or idealization; a naturalist stresses close depiction of life.