Added 9 October 2026
preternatural
/ˌpɹiː.təˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə)ɹ.əl/ adjective
Latin root: prēternātūrālis Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about preternatural at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Surpassing the ordinary or normal.
Beyond his preternatural affability there is some acid and some steel
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Existing outside of or not in accordance with nature.
find transcendental motives for sublunary action
Origin
From preter- + natural, after Latin prēternātūrālis/praeternātūrālis, from praeter nātūram, from praeter (“beyond”) + nātūra (“nature”); compare supernatural.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)