Preternatural - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pre·ter·nat·u·ral

Audio Help [pree-ter-nach-er-uh

l, -nach-ruh

l] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	out of the ordinary course of nature; exceptional or abnormal: preternatural powers.

2.	outside of nature; supernatural.

[Origin: 1570–80; < ML praeternātūrālis, adj. based on L phrase praeter nātūram beyond nature. See preter-, natural

]

—Related forms

pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ism, pre·ter·nat·u·ral·i·ty

Audio Help [pree-ter-nach-uh-ral-i-tee] Pronunciation Key, pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ness, noun

pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. unusual, extraordinary, unnatural. See miraculous.

—Antonyms 1. ordinary, usual.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Preternatural

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pre·ter·nat·u·ral Audio Help (prē'tər-nāch'ər-əl, -nāch'rəl) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Out of or being beyond the normal course of nature; differing from the natural.
Surpassing the normal or usual; extraordinary: "Below his preternatural affability there is some acid and steel" (George F. Will).
Transcending the natural or material order; supernatural.

[Medieval Latin praeternātūrālis, from Latin praeter nātūrām, beyond nature : praeter, beyond; see preterit + nātūra, nature; see nature.]

pre'ter·nat'u·ral·ism n., pre'ter·nat'u·ral·ly adv., pre'ter·nat'u·ral·ness n.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
preternatural

1580, from M.L. preternaturalis (c.1255), from L. phrase præter naturam (præterque fatum) "beyond nature (and beyond fate)," from præter "beyond" (see preterite) + acc. of natura "nature" (see natural).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

preternatural
adjective
1.	surpassing the ordinary or normal; "Beyond his preternatural affability there is some acid and some steel" - George Will; "his uncanny sense of direction"
2.	existing outside of or not in accordance with nature; "find transcendental motives for sublunary action"-Aldous Huxley [syn: nonnatural]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Preternatural

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral\ (?; 135), a. [Pref. preter + natural.] Beyond of different from what is natural, or according to the regular course of things, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon; irregular; abnormal; as, a preternatural appearance; a preternatural stillness; a preternatural presentation (in childbirth) or labor.

This vile and preternatural temper of mind. --South.

Syn: See Supernatural.

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preternatural

preternatural was Word of the Day on February 28, 2001.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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