ab extra

American  

[ahb ek-strah, ab ek-struh] / ɑb ˈɛk strɑ, æb ˈɛk strə /

adverb

Latin.

1. from the outside.

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Example Sentences

"It seems to me," he said, "that there is a guiding and directing principle ab extra which interacts with the material of the physical universe but is not of it."

From Time Magazine Archive

But the germination of every seed depends on conditions ab extra, and all germs are modified, in their development, by geographical and climatal surroundings.

From Christianity and Greek Philosophy or, the relation between spontaneous and reflective thought in Greece and the positive teaching of Christ and His Apostles by Cocker, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin)

But in most English humor,--as indeed in all English literature except the very highest,--the social class to which the writer does not belong is regarded ab extra.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 6 by Mabie, Hamilton Wright

I solicit from the friend who accompanied Mr. Edgerton the thoroughest statement which he can give me of the case, ab extra.

From The Opium Habit by Day, Horace B.

But some of his expressions are objectionable, as they seem to assume a material substratum, animated ab extra by an infusion of the Logos.

From Christian Mysticism by Inge, William Ralph