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. See supernatural
   another word for supernatural

Derived Forms

• ˌpreterˈnaturally, adverb
• ˌpreterˈnaturalness, noun
• ˌpreterˈnaturalism, noun

Other Words From

• pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ism pre·ter·nat·u·ral·i·ty [pree-ter-nach-, uh, -, ral, -i-tee, pre-], pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ness noun
• pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ly adverb
• un·pre·ter·nat·u·ral 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

An activist conservative and preternatural salesman, he drew national attention for his work on health care and welfare policy.

From 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.

From 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.

From Outside Online

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

He said he had heard about my wonderful “flying-spears,” and declined to fight me if I used such preternatural weapons.

From Project Gutenberg

Such were the truths which Mohammed, with preternatural earnestness, now declared,--doctrines which would revolutionize Arabia.

From Project Gutenberg

A preternatural dread of water rages among all the inhabitants of Rome, from the untitled down to the titled.

From Project Gutenberg

The vengeance of Baldassare is almost preternatural; it surpasses the wrath of Achilles and the malignity of Shylock.

From Project Gutenberg

By a preternatural light in the chamber he observed distinctly everything around him.

From Project Gutenberg