7 results for: preternatural

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.

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

Preternatural

Su`per*nat"u*ral\, a. [Pref. super- + natural: cf. OF. supernaturel, F. surnaturel.] Being beyond, or exceeding, the power or laws of nature; miraculous.

Syn: Preternatural.

Usage: Supernatural, Preternatural. Preternatural signifies beside nature, and supernatural, above or beyond nature. What is very greatly aside from the ordinary course of things is preternatural; what is above or beyond the established laws of the universe is supernatural. The dark day which terrified all Europe nearly a century ago was preternatural; the resurrection of the dead is supernatural. "That form which the earth is under at present is preternatural, like a statue made and broken again." --T. Burnet. "Cures wrought by medicines are natural operations; but the miraculous ones wrought by Christ and his apostles were supernatural." --Boyle.

That is supernatural, whether it be, that is either not in the chain of natural cause and effect, or which acts on the chain of cause and effect in nature, from without the chain. --Bushnell.

We must not view creation as supernatural, but we do look upon it as miraculous. --McCosh.

The supernatural, whatever is above and beyond the scope, or the established course, of the laws of nature. "Nature and the supernatural." --H. Bushnell.

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