supernatural English · revision 15233

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=probably before 1425|origins=la nāscor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌs(j)uː.pəˈnæ.tʃə.ɹəl/, /-tʃɹəl/ ''(UK)''; /ˌsu.pəɹˈnæ.tʃə.ɹəl/, /-tʃɹəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|supernaturel]], [[bor|la-med|supernātūrālis|t=above or beyond nature]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|super-|t=above]] and [[m|la|nātūra|t=nature]] (see [[nature]]), with [[m|la|-ālis]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The Medieval Latin word is thought to have been coined by Thomas Aquinas.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or given by God, divine, heavenly: the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) probably before 1425 (supernaturel) in Barnhart, with supernatural about 1443.^(Barnhart 1988) The OED's first quotation, for above nature, belonging to a higher realm, is from 1526.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was first used of revelation and the like;^(Etymonline) the idea is being beyond the powers or laws of nature.^(Etymonline) More than the natural or ordinary, abnormally great, is from 1533.^(OED 1989) The noun, a supernatural being, is from 1729,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''the supernatural'', what is above the course of nature, from 1830.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The association with ghosts has predominated since the 19th century, while the older religious sense survives in [[supernal]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1425 – supernaturel.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – above nature.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533 – extraordinary.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1729 – a supernatural being.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1830 – the supernatural.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to existence outside the natural world, or to things that natural laws cannot explain.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to [[ghost|alt=ghosts]], spirits or [[occult]] beings.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to a deity or the direct exercise of divine power; [[miraculous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Exceeding the ordinary; abnormal.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The supernatural: supernatural forces, beings or events.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[supernaturally]]

+ * [[supernaturalness]]

+ * [[semisupernatural]]

+ * [[supernaturalism]]

+ * [[supernaturality]]

+ * [[supernaturalize]]

+ * [[unsupernatural]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nonnatural]]

+ * [[preternatural]]

+ * [[supernormal]]

+ * [[supranatural]]

+ * [[unnatural]]

+ * [[natural]]

+ * [[nature]]

+ * [[supernal]]

+ * [[paranormal]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Century Dictionary distinguished what is supernatural, above nature, from the preternatural or extra-natural, outside nature, and the unnatural, contrary to nature.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}