preternatural

[pree-ter-nach-er-uh l, -nach-ruh l]

adjective

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

Origin of preternatural

1570–80; < Medieval Latin praeternātūrālis, adj. based on Latin phrase praeter nātūram beyond nature. See preter-, natural

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

[pree-ter-nach-uh-ral-i-tee] /ˌpri tərˌnætʃ əˈræl ɪ ti/, pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ness, nounpre·ter·nat·u·ral·ly, adverbun·pre·ter·nat·u·ral, adjectiveun·pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

1. unusual, extraordinary, unnatural. See miraculous.

Antonyms

1. ordinary, usual.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for preternatural

Contemporary Examples

He presided over the preternatural creation of 30 million new jobs—and the sharpest rise in median incomes in a generation.
No One’s Going to Challenge Hillary Clinton
Robert Shrum
May 10, 2014
There is an automatism to him, a preternatural talent for responding exactly, and briskly, with what is expected.
Oren Makes Friends, Not News
Jacob Silverman
October 16, 2012
Schwarzenegger is adept at disguising his true feelings beneath a mask of preternatural calm, but he was suddenly doubly alert.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Comes Clean
Laurence Leamer
September 30, 2012

Historical Examples

In this undertaking he manifests a preternatural astuteness.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes
Even my preternatural eagerness could not discern who they were!
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill
He was speaking in a deadened voice which had yet a preternatural distinctness.
The Arrow of Gold
Joseph Conrad
And so Ormiston felt, as he stood eyeing it with preternatural gravity.
The Midnight Queen
May Agnes Fleming
Daddy hunted about with a look of preternatural sagacity about him.
Danger! and Other Stories
Arthur Conan Doyle

British Dictionary definitions for preternatural

preternatural

adjective

beyond what is ordinarily found in nature; abnormal
another word for supernatural

Derived Formspreternaturally, adverbpreternaturalism, nounpreternaturalness or preternaturality, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Medieval Latin praeternātūrālis, from Latin praeter natūram beyond the scope of nature

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for preternatural

adj.

1570s, from Medieval Latin preternaturalis (mid-13c.), from Latin phrase praeter naturam (praeterque fatum) "beyond nature (and beyond fate)," from praeter "beyond" (see preterite) + accusative of natura "nature" (see natural).

preternatural

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}preternatural

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for preternatural

Contemporary Examples

He presided over the preternatural creation of 30 million new jobs—and the sharpest rise in median incomes in a generation.

There is an automatism to him, a preternatural talent for responding exactly, and briskly, with what is expected.

Schwarzenegger is adept at disguising his true feelings beneath a mask of preternatural calm, but he was suddenly doubly alert.

Historical Examples

In this undertaking he manifests a preternatural astuteness.

Even my preternatural eagerness could not discern who they were!

He was speaking in a deadened voice which had yet a preternatural distinctness.

And so Ormiston felt, as he stood eyeing it with preternatural gravity.

Daddy hunted about with a look of preternatural sagacity about him.

preternatural

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for preternatural

adj.

Origin of preternatural