a. (sb.) [ad. med.L. supernātūrālis (Thomas Aquinas), f. super- SUPER- 4 a + nātūra NATURE: see -AL. Cf. OF. supernaturel (16th c.; mod.F. surnaturel), It. soprannaturale, Sp., Pg. sobrenatural.] A. adj.
1. That is above nature; belonging to a higher realm or system than that of nature; transcending the powers or the ordinary course of nature.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 190. Fayth is a supernaturall lyght, & therfore it is indiuysyble, as all graces supernaturall be.
1555. Bradford, in Foxe, A. & M. (1570), III. 1822/1. If a woman that is natural, can not finally forget the child of her wombe,… God which is a father supernaturall,… wyll not forget you.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., II. 73. Of nature is giltinesse, and sanctification is of supernaturall grace.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. xi. § 3. Those supernaturall passions of ioy, peace, and delight.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. iii. 3. They say miracles are past, and we haue our Philosophicall persons, to make moderne and familiar things supernaturall and causelesse.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. v. § 3 (1622), 240. Hee flyeth aboue those inferior and naturall concauses, vnto the supreme and supernaturall Cause.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. xi. 44. Thus hath he also made the ignorant sort beleeve that naturall effects … proceed from supernaturall powers.
1749. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. iii. § 7. 412. Inspiration … termed supernatural properly, in Contradistinction to all Knowledge resulting from the common Laws of Nature.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), I. 319. Testimony … declared in supernatural voices from heaven.
1865. Lecky, Ration., I. i. 77. The pestilences which desolated nations were deemed supernatural.
1866. Liddon, Bampton Lect., vi. (1875), 296. Christianity is a supernatural religion.
1892. J. Tait, Mind in Matter (ed. 3), 308. The Apostles considered supernatural power as something resident in Jesus.
1907. J. R. Illingworth, Doctr. Trinity, ii. 39. When the word was made Flesh, a supernatural Being entered what we call the order of nature.
b. transf. Relating to, dealing with, or characterized by what is above nature.
1569. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Arts, i. 4 b. The Supernaturall Philosophers vse the Coniectures of Naturall Philosophers.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, etc. (1871), 148. As well in naturall philosophy As supernaturall theologie.
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, I. xi. 146. The Court of the Lions has also its share of supernatural legends.
1834. K. H. Digby, Mores Cath., V. i. 14. During the supernatural ages of which I am attempting the history.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, Pref. Lady Hester Stanhope’s conversation on supernatural topics.
2. More than the natural or ordinary; unnaturally or extraordinarily great; abnormal, extraordinary; † occas. beyond the normal number, supernumerary. Obs. or arch.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1539), 16. Unnaturall or supernaturall heate distroyeth appetite.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., E iv b. A precious supernaturall pandor, apparelled in all points like a gentleman.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 27/1. Conserninge the supernaturall teeth, it is sometimes daungerous to drawe them.
1656. Duchess of Newcastle, in Firth, Life (1886), 287. My sister … whom I … loved with a supernatural affection.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xvii. He seemed suddenly animated with supernatural strength.
1814. Mrs. J. West, Alicia de Lacy, IV. 249. A supernatural share of fortitude appeared communicated to this long-suffering lady.
1874. H. R. Reynolds, John Bapt., i. § 1. 5. The figures of some of the heroes of the past … do assume supernatural dimensions, or at any rate look so colossal as to appear super-human.
B. absol. or sb.
1. absol. with the. That which is supernatural.
1830. Scott, Monast., Introd. The introduction of the supernatural and marvellous.
1867. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., Pref. (1870), p. vi. The supernatural is not antagonistic to the constitution of nature, but is the eternal source of it.
1905. G. K. Chesterton, Heretics, 99. Take away the supernatural, and what remains is the unnatural.
2. sb. pl. Supernatural things.
In quot. 1587 applied to Aristotle’s Metaphysics (see the etym. of METAPHYSICS).
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xx. (1592), 316. Aristotle in his Supernaturals rehearseth … a certeyne aunswere of Simonides … that it belongeth to none but onely God, to haue skill of the things that are aboue nature.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. i. 705. If a Wise-man … By th’ onely power of Plants and Minerals Can work a thousand super-naturals.
a. 1656. Hales, Gold. Rem., III. (1673), 57. Think we then to dive into supernaturals, and search out those causes which God hath locked up in his secret treasures?
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 223. The secret Conveyance of Infection … is more than sufficient to execute the Fierceness of divine Vengeance, without putting it upon Supernaturals and Miracle.
1891. But How if the Gospels are Historic? 10. Neither … can it be said that anything in the primary nature of mind necessarily precludes belief in supernaturals.
3. A supernatural being.
1729. S. Johnson (title), Hurlothrumbo; or, the Super-Natural.
1801. Southey, in Robberds, Mem. W. Taylor (1843), I. 386. In Milton and in Klopstock … the supernaturals are the agents, the figures, not the wires.
1836. [Mrs. Traill], Backw. Canada, x. 153. This is too matter-of-fact country for such supernaturals to visit.
1886. C. Rogers, Soc. Life Scot., xxi. III. 338. There was a supernatural which had its home in hill centres…. This was the ‘Urisk.’
Hence Supernaturaldom (nonce-wd.), the realm of supernatural things or beings.
1867. Aug. J. E. Wilson, Vashti, vi. The popular nerve, which closely connected the community with supernaturaldom, thrilled afresh.
