Word a Day
preternatural
What does preternatural mean?
preternatural (adjective): surpassing the ordinary or normal.
Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.
How do you use preternatural in a sentence?
- Beyond his preternatural affability there is some acid and some steel. (Princeton WordNet 3.1)
Where does preternatural come from?
From preter- + natural, after Latin prēternātūrālis/praeternātūrālis, from praeter nātūram, from praeter (“beyond”) + nātūra (“nature”); compare supernatural.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What are synonyms of preternatural?
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “preternatural”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “preternatural” mean?
passing or disappearing with time
Not quite: that's what transient means.
surpassing the ordinary or normal
Right! That's what “preternatural” means.
honest, frank and straightforward
Not quite: that's what upfront means.
country-styled or pastoral; rural
Not quite: that's what rustic means.
Which word is closest in meaning to “preternatural”?
uncanny
Right!
dubious
Not quite: dubious means something else.
elusive
Not quite: elusive means something else.
upfront
Not quite: upfront means something else.
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