From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Creature \Crea"ture\ (kr[=e]"t[=u]r; 135), n. [F. cr['e]ature,
L. creatura. See Create.]
1. Anything created; anything not self-existent; especially,
any being created with life; an animal; a man.
[1913 Webster]
He asked water, a creature so common and needful
that it was against the law of nature to deny him.
--Fuller.
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God's first creature was light. --Bacon.
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On earth, join, all ye creatures, to extol
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.
--Milton.
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And most attractive is the fair result
Of thought, the creature of a polished mind.
--Cowper.
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2. A human being, in pity, contempt, or endearment; as, a
poor creature; a pretty creature.
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The world hath not a sweeter creature. --Shak.
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3. A person who owes his rise and fortune to another; a
servile dependent; an instrument; a tool.
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A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen. --Shak.
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Both Charles himself and his creature, Laud.
--Macaulay.
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4. A general term among farmers for horses, oxen, etc.
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Creature comforts, those objects, as food, drink, and
shelter, which minister to the comfort of the body.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
creature
n 1: a living organism characterized by voluntary movement [syn:
animal, animate being, beast, brute, creature,
fauna]
2: a human being; `wight' is an archaic term [syn: creature,
wight]
3: a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform
unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else [syn:
creature, tool, puppet]