supernatural

English

Etymology

From Middle English supernatural, supernatural, from Middle French supernaturel, 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

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌsuːpəˈnatʃɹəl/, /ˌsuːpəˈnatʃəɹəl/, /ˌsjuːpəˈnatʃəɹəl/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌsuːpɚˈnætʃɚəl/, /ˌsuːpɚˈnætʃɹəl/
  • (General New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˌsʉːpɘˈnɛtʃɹɯ(l)/
  • (file)

Adjective

supernatural (comparative more supernatural, superlative most supernatural)

  1. Above nature; 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.
    Stephen King's first novel is about a girl named Carrie dealing with supernatural powers.
    • March 14, 2018, Roger Penrose writing in The Guardian, 'Mind over matter': Stephen Hawking – obituary
      As with the Delphic oracle of ancient Greece, physical impairment seemed compensated by almost supernatural gifts, which allowed his mind to roam the universe freely, upon occasion enigmatically revealing some of its secrets hidden from ordinary mortal view.
  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.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#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

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle French supernaturel, from Latin supernātūrālis; equivalent to super- + natural.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌsiu̯pərnaːˈtiu̯ral/, /ˌsiu̯pərnaːˈtiu̯rɛl/, /ˌsiu̯pərnaˈtiu̯ral/, /ˌsiu̯pərnaˈtiu̯rɛl/

Adjective

supernatural

  1. (Late Middle English, religion) Deity-related; from God.

Descendants

References


Spanish

Etymology

From Latin supernātūrālis.

Adjective

supernatural (plural supernaturales)

  1. supernatural

Synonyms

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.