supernatural
pronunciation
How to pronounce supernatural in British English:
UK [ˌsu:pəˈnætʃrəl]
How to pronounce supernatural in American English:
US [ˌsupərˈnætʃrəl]
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- Noun:
- supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
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- Adjective:
- not existing in nature or subject to explanation according to natural laws; not physical or material
Word Origin
- supernatural (adj.)
- early 15c. "of or given by God," from Medieval Latin supernaturalis "above or beyond nature, divine," from Latin super "above" (see super-) + natura "nature" (see nature (n.)). Originally with more of a religious sense, "of or given by God, divine; heavenly;" association with ghosts, etc., has predominated since 19c. Related: Supernaturalism. That is supernatural, whatever 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. [Horace Bushnell, "Nature and the Supernatural," 1858]
- supernatural (n.)
- 1729, "a supernatural being," from supernatural (adj.). From 1830 as "that which is above or beyond the established course of nature."
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. Babbage has not seen any supernatural action through his digital windows .
- 2. But superhuman does not mean supernatural .
- 3. In that case a sense of being watched by a supernatural being might be useful .
- 4. Our predisposition to believe in a supernatural world stays with us as we get older .
- 5. A visiting professor at texas a & m university is giving a seminar on the supernatural .