supernatural
[soo-per-nach-er-uh l, -nach-ruh l]
- of, relating to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.
- of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or attributed to God or a deity.
- of a superlative degree; preternatural: a missile of supernatural speed.
- of, relating to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings; eerie; occult.
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- a being, place, object, occurrence, etc., considered as supernatural or of supernatural origin; that which is supernatural, or outside the natural order.
- behavior supposedly caused by the intervention of supernatural beings.
- direct influence or action of a deity on earthly affairs.
- the supernatural,
- supernatural beings, behavior, and occurrences collectively.
- supernatural forces and the supernatural plane of existence: a deep fear of the supernatural.
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Origin of supernatural
Synonyms
See more synonyms for supernatural on Thesaurus.com1. See miraculous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for supernatural
Contemporary Examples
Although Korra looks at PTSD and assault with supernatural grandiosity, fans were quick to pick up on it in some forums.
On TripAdvisor, visitors gush about the tour and the supernatural experiences encountered during their stay.
It is clear Hitchens had no use for the supernatural or spiritual, but his alternative to religion was not merely scientific.
It was identified as an ancient exorcism technique that indicated she had been suspected of supernatural powers.
Many of my soldiers began to treat bracelets, pictures, bibles and video games as if they had supernatural powers.
Historical Examples
You might often believe in supernatural occurrences if it were not for the witnesses.
Questionable ShapesWilliam Dean Howells
In the classes above them the supernatural has been slain by the supercilious.
Alarms and DiscursionsG. K. Chesterton
Certainly, many of the workings of Nature are wonderful, but they are not supernatural.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
With respect to the supernatural scenes I have beheld, the question is more difficult.
ImogenWilliam Godwin
It could not have been that his 'foreknowledge' was supernatural.
Homeward BoundJames Fenimore Cooper
supernatural
- of or relating to things that cannot be explained according to natural laws
- characteristic of or caused by or as if by a god; miraculous
- of, involving, or ascribed to occult beings
- exceeding the ordinary; abnormal
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- the supernatural supernatural forces, occurrences, and beings collectively or their realm
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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
Word Origin and History for supernatural
adj.
early 15c. "above nature, transcending nature, belonging to a higher realm," from Medieval Latin supernaturalis "above or beyond nature," from Latin super "above" (see super-) + natura "nature" (see nature). Originally with more of a religious sense, "of or given by God, divine; heavenly;" association with ghosts, etc., has predominated since c.1799.
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n.
1580s, from supernatural (adj.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper