preternatural

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

/ ˌpri tərˈnætʃ ər əl, -ˈnætʃ rəl /

adjective

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

outside of nature; supernatural.

Words nearby preternatural

preteritive, preterlegal, preterm, preterm infant, pretermit, preternatural, pretest, pretext, pretexta, pretexting, pretibial fever

Origin of preternatural

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

SYNONYMS FOR preternatural

1 unusual, extraordinary, unnatural. See miraculous.

ANTONYMS FOR preternatural

1 ordinary, usual.

OTHER WORDS FROM preternatural

pre·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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for preternaturally

Unlike the Hollywood version of genius, which is preternaturally cerebral, Hitchens was preternaturally visceral.
Remembering the Real Genius of Christopher Hitchens, Not the Caricature|Lee Siegel|December 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
For the record, her long, golden locks are as preternaturally perfect as ever.
A Socialite's Revenge|Jacob Bernstein|March 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
For some reason the preternaturally acute Angèle avoided her mother.
The Revellers|Louis Tracy
The pulse was preternaturally slow—great stupor—dilatation of the pupils, and diastasis of the bones of the head.
Remarks on the Subject of Lactation|Edward Morton

All her senses were preternaturally acute—she could see incredible distances, hear, smell, in a way that only wild nature can.
Lore of Proserpine|Maurice Hewlett
She was very pale, and her eyes were dilating and preternaturally bright.
The Historical Nights' Entertainment|Rafael Sabatini
First came Tom Sawyer, high-booted, one-braced, preternaturally solemn and important.
Through Arctic Lapland|Cutcliffe Hyne

British Dictionary definitions for preternaturally

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