preternatural

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

synonym study for preternatural

1. See miraculous.

OTHER WORDS FROM preternatural

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

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

Words nearby preternatural

preteritive, preterlegal, preterm, preterm infant, pretermit, preternatural, preternaturally, pretest, pretext, pretexta, pretexting

How to use preternatural in a sentence

An activist conservative and preternatural salesman, he drew national attention for his work on health care and welfare policy.
Wisconsin: The incubator for America’s tribal politics|Dan Balz|October 8, 2021|Washington Post
The author asserts here that Fabian Cancellara did not cheat with a motor, and that there is no evidence whatsoever that he did, apart from his suspicious hand movements and preternatural speed, which are purely circumstantial.
The Faux 2021 Bicycle-Tax Plan|wtaylor|October 1, 2021|Outside Online
Both runners have repeatedly displayed a preternatural ability to close on this course, saving a final burst of energy so that they can be a half-yard ahead of their competition just as they cross the line.
New York’s Magic Road Mile Returns|mmirhashem|September 11, 2021|Outside Online
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
He said he had heard about my wonderful “flying-spears,” and declined to fight me if I used such preternatural weapons.
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont|Louis de Rougemont
Such were the truths which Mohammed, with preternatural earnestness, now declared,--doctrines which would revolutionize Arabia.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume V|John Lord
A preternatural dread of water rages among all the inhabitants of Rome, from the untitled down to the titled.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862|Various
The vengeance of Baldassare is almost preternatural; it surpasses the wrath of Achilles and the malignity of Shylock.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume VII|John Lord
By a preternatural light in the chamber he observed distinctly everything around him.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant

British Dictionary definitions for preternatural

preternatural

/ (ˌpriːtəˈnætʃrəl) /

adjective

beyond what is ordinarily found in nature; abnormal

another word for supernatural

Derived forms of preternatural

preternaturally, adverbpreternaturalism, nounpreternaturalness or preternaturality, noun

Word Origin for preternatural

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

preternatural

Definition of preternatural

OTHER WORDS FOR preternatural

OPPOSITES FOR preternatural

Origin of preternatural

synonym study for preternatural

OTHER WORDS FROM preternatural

Words nearby preternatural

Words related to preternatural

How to use preternatural in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preternatural

Derived forms of preternatural

Word Origin for preternatural