preternatural

[pree-ter-nach-er-uhl, -nach-ruhl, pre-]

adjective

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

   preternatural powers.

   Synonyms: unnatural, extraordinary, unusual
   Antonyms: usual, ordinary

2. outside of nature; supernatural.

preternatural

/ ˌpriːtəˈnætʃrəl /

adjective

1. beyond what is ordinarily found in nature; abnormal

2. another word for supernatural

Other Word Forms

• preternaturalism noun
• preternaturality noun
• preternaturalness noun
• preternaturally adverb
• unpreternatural adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of preternatural¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin praeternātūrālis, adjective based on Latin phrase praeter nātūram “beyond nature”; preter-, natural

Word History and Origins

Origin of preternatural¹

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

Synonym Study

See miraculous.

Example Sentences

She has a preternatural belief in her own instincts and a boundless curiosity that, taken together, help explain the extraordinarily rich life and oeuvre she’s constructed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Also evident here is his preternatural gift for widescreen compositions, as he uses negative space to suggestive effect and often incorporates telling details at the edges of the frame.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That head-down work ethic paid off on singles like “Back to Friends” and “Undressed,” which landed in winter and spring with a preternatural skill for hooks and emotional heft.

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At her husband’s funeral last month, she demonstrated preternatural poise addressing a stadium-sized crowd, extolling a traditional view of marriage in which he was the family’s spiritual leader while she maintained the home.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

From his teenage years, he’s shown a preternatural feel for the game, a singular ability to dictate action and flow.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal