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Webster 1913 Edition

Supernatural

Suˊper-nat′u-ral

,
Adj.
[Pref.
super-
+
natural
: cf. OF.
supernaturel
, F.
surnaturel
.]
Being beyond, or exceeding, the power or laws of nature; miraculous.
Syn. – Preternatural.
–
Supernatural
,
Preternatural
. Preternatural signifies beside nature, and supernatural, above or beyond nature. What is very greatly aside from the ordinary course of things is preternatural; what is above or beyond the established laws of the universe is supernatural. The dark day which terrified all Europe nearly a century ago was preternatural; the resurrection of the dead is supernatural. “That form which the earth is under at present is preternatural, like a statue made and broken again.”
T. Burnet.
“Cures wrought by medicines are natural operations; but the miraculous ones wrought by Christ and his apostles were supernatural.”
Boyle.
That is
supernatural
, whether it be, that is either not in the chain of natural cause and effect, or which acts on the chain of cause and effect in nature, from without the chain.
Bushnell.
We must not view creation as
supernatural
, but we do look upon it as miraculous.
McCosh.
The supernatural
,
whatever is above and beyond the scope, or the established course, of the laws of nature.
“Nature and the supernatural.”
H. Bushnell.

Webster 1828 Edition

Supernatural

SUPERNAT'URAL

,
Adj.
[super and natural.] Being beyond or exceeding the powers or laws of nature; miraculous. A supernatural event is one which is not produced according to the ordinary or established laws of natural things. Thus if iron has more specific gravity than water, it will sink in that fluid; and the floating of iron on water must be a supernatural event. Now no human being can alter a law of nature; the floating of iron on water therefore must be caused by divine power specially exerted to suspend, in this instance,a law of nature. Hence supernatural events or miracles can be produced only by the immediate agency of divine power.

Definition 2024

supernatural

supernatural

English

Adjective

supernatural ‎(comparative more supernatural, superlative most supernatural)

  1. Above nature; that which is beyond or added to nature, often so considered because it is given by a deity or some force beyond that which humans are born with. In Roman Catholic theology, sanctifying grace is considered to be a supernatural addition to human nature.
  2. Not of the usual; not natural; altered by forces that are not understood fully if at all.
    The house is haunted by supernatural forces.
  3. Neither visible nor measurable.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

supernatural ‎(plural supernaturals)

  1. (countable) A supernatural being.
  2. (uncountable) Supernatural beings and events collectively. (When used with definite article: "the supernatural".)
    • 2012, Blake Morrison, The Guardian, :
      Dr Johnson defended Shakespeare's use of the supernatural from the charge of implausibility on the grounds that, "The reality of witchcraft … has in all ages and countries been credited by the common people, and in most by the learned."

Translations

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin supernātūrālis.

Adjective

supernatural m, f ‎(plural supernaturales)

  1. supernatural

Synonyms

Etymology

From Latin supernātūrālis, from super ‎(“above”) + nātūra ‎(“nature; that which we are born with”), from nātus ‎(“born”), perfect passive participle of nāscī ‎(“to be born”) + adjective suffix -ālis.

Pronunciation

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