preternatural

[ pree-ter-nach-er-uhl, -nach-ruhl ]
/ ˌpri tərˈnætʃ ər əl, -ˈnætʃ rəl /

adjective

out of the ordinary course of nature; exceptional or abnormal: preternatural powers.
outside of nature; supernatural.

Origin of preternatural

1570–80; < Medieval Latin praeternātūrālis, adj. based on Latin phrase praeter nātūram beyond nature. See preter-, natural

OTHER WORDS FROM preternatural

pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ism, pre·ter·nat·u·ral·i·ty [pree-ter-nach-uh-ral-i-tee] /ˌpri tərˌnætʃ əˈræl ɪ ti/, pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ness, noun pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ly, adverb un·pre·ter·nat·u·ral, adjective un·pre·ter·nat·u·ral·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for preternatural

British Dictionary definitions for preternatural

preternatural
/ (ˌpriːtəˈnætʃrəl) /

adjective

beyond what is ordinarily found in nature; abnormal
another word for supernatural

Derived forms of preternatural

preternaturally, adverb preternaturalism, noun preternaturalness or preternaturality, noun

Word Origin for preternatural

C16: from Medieval Latin praeternātūrālis, from Latin praeter natūram beyond the scope of nature