supernal
Americanadjective
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being in or belonging to the heaven of divine beings; heavenly, celestial, or divine.
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lofty; of more than earthly or human excellence, powers, etc.
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being on high or in the sky or visible heavens.
adjective
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of or from the world of the divine; celestial
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of or emanating from above or from the sky
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of supernal
1475–85; < Middle French < Latin supern ( us ) upper + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Something that's heavenly or otherworldly is supernal. A supernal understanding of life, for example, would be a deeper, spiritual, or religious awareness. Things with a spiritual emphasis can be described as supernal, particularly in books and religious literature. A religious Christian might find supernal wisdom in the Bible, while supernal revelations might come to a Hindu during prayer in a temple. Supernal can also mean simply "exceptional:" "The supernal poets are the ones who put words to feelings." The Latin root is supernus, "situated above."
Vocabulary lists containing supernal
"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 4
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Mythology
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Walden
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Well, the con man supernal, the dethroned king of downtown, the toppled ruler of Albany, has reclaimed his luck and has won again.
From Washington Times ● May 5, 2021
Reading his account of those few months is like bathing in supernal light.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 3, 2020
That opening space sequence functions as supernal ballet, with various vessels spinning, rotating along unfamiliar axes, pirouetting in a post-atmospheric dance of grace against a backdrop of penumbras.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2018
Indeed, the pictures are of such supernal excellence that Sendak’s publisher released the title on both its children’s and adult lists.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 21, 2017
The sun is going down; but its mellow light yet lingers upon the uplands, and tinges the foliage of the trees with supernal tints.
From The Genius of Scotland or Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature and Religion by Turnbull, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
