\Na"tion\, n. [F. nation, L. natio nation, race, orig., a
being born, fr. natus, p. p. of nasci, to be born, for
gnatus, gnasci, from the same root as E. kin. [root]44. See
{Kin} kindred, and cf. {Cognate}, {Natal}, {Native}.]
1. (Ethnol.) A part, or division, of the people of the earth,
   distinguished from the rest by common descent, language,
   or institutions; a race; a stock.
         All nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.
                                               --Rev. vii. 9.
2. The body of inhabitants of a country, united under an
   independent government of their own.
         A nation is the unity of a people.    --Coleridge.
         Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a
         nation.                               --F. S. Key.
3. Family; lineage. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
4.
   (a) One of the divisions of university students in a
       classification according to nativity, formerly common
       in Europe.
   (b) (Scotch Universities) One of the four divisions (named
       from the parts of Scotland) in which students were
       classified according to their nativity.
5. A great number; a great deal; -- by way of emphasis; as, a
   nation of herbs. --Sterne.
{Five nations}. See under {Five}.
{Law of nations}. See {International law}, under
   {International}, and {Law}.
Syn: people; race. See {People}.