An essence regarded as common to many things or apt to be so. It can be considered in three ways: (a) as it is in itself, e.g., one can consider “rational animal” in itself and apart from its existence in individuals or in the intellect (in this sense, it is not universal but is the ground for universality); (b) as it is particularized in individuals, e.g., “rational animal” as particularized in Peter, Paul, or Mary (in this case the nature exists in a non-universal fashion, though provides a ground for universality, whether by non-division of the individuals [Thomas] or by some kind of less-than-numeric unity [Scotus]); (c) as the essence exists in the intellect as, e.g., “rational animal” as an objective concept and is explicitly related to inferiors (whether species or individuals) and therefore can be called a universal.