Preternatural
[,priːtə'nætʃ(ə)r(ə)l]
Definition
(adj.) surpassing the ordinary or normal; 'Beyond his preternatural affability there is some acid and some steel' - George Will; 'his uncanny sense of direction' .
Checked by Carmen--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Beyond of different from what is natural, or according to the regular course of things, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon; irregular; abnormal; as, a preternatural appearance; a preternatural stillness; a preternatural presentation (in childbirth) or labor.
Checked by Herman
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Irregular (as being aside from the ordinary course of nature, but not necessarily SUPERNATURAL or miraculous), abnormal, anomalous, unnatural, inexplicable, strange.
Checked by Jennie
Definition
adj. beyond what is natural: out of the regular course of things: extraordinary.—n. Preternat′uralism belief in the preternatural: preternatural existence.—adv. Preternat′urally.—n. Preternat′uralness.
Edited by Estelle
Examples
- I see a preternatural lure in its wily glance. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- The beginning of all effort has indeed with me been marked by a preternatural imbecility. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- When the disguised Queen of Love appeared before Aeneas a preternatural perfume accompanied her presence and betrayed her quality. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Those whom Nature had depicted as merely quaint became grotesque, the grotesque became preternatural; for all was in extremity. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- In her eyes, we were a pair of glacial prodigies, coldproud, and preternatural. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
Edited by Estelle