| 释义 |
supernatural, a. (n.)|s(j)uːpəˈnætjʊərəl, -tʃərəl|
[ad. med.L. supernātūrālis (Thomas Aquinas), f. super- super- 4 a + nātūra nature: see -al1. 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.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 190 Fayth is a super⁓naturall lyght, & therfore it is indiuysyble, as all graces supernaturall be. 1555Bradford 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 super⁓naturall,..wyll not forget you. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. ii. 73 Of nature is giltinesse, and sanctification is of supernaturall grace. 1594Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. xi. §3 Those supernaturall passions of ioy, peace, and delight. 1601Shakes. 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. a1619M. Fotherby Atheom. ii. v. §3. (1622) 240 Hee flyeth aboue those inferior and naturall concauses, vnto the supreme and supernaturall Cause. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. xi. 44 Thus hath he also made the ignorant sort beleeve that naturall effects..proceed from supernaturall powers. 1749Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. §7 412 Inspiration..termed supernatural properly, in Contradistinction to all Knowledge resulting from the common Laws of Nature. 1772Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) I. 319 Testimony..declared in supernatural voices from heaven. 1865Lecky Ration. I. i. 77 The pestilences which desolated nations were deemed supernatural. 1866Liddon Bampton Lect. vi. (1875) 296 Christianity is a supernatural religion. 1892J. Tait Mind in Matter (ed. 3) 308 The Apostles considered supernatural power as something resident in Jesus. 1907J. 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.
1569Sanford tr. Agrippa's Van. Arts i. 4 b, The Supernaturall Philosophers vse the Coniectures of Naturall Philosophers. 1616R. C. Times' Whistle etc. (1871) 148 As well in naturall philosophy As supernaturall theologie. 1832W. Irving Alhambra I. xi. 146 The Court of the Lions has also its share of supernatural legends. 1834K. H. Digby Mores Cath. v. i. 14 During the supernatural ages of which I am attempting the history. 1844Kinglake Eothen 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.
1533Elyot Cast. Helthe (1539) 16 Unnaturall or supernaturall heate distroyeth appetite. 1594Nashe Unfort. Trav. E iv b, A precious supernaturall pandor, apparelled in all points like a gentleman. 1597A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 27/1 Conserninge the supernaturall teeth, it is sometimes daungerous to drawe them. 1656Duchess of Newcastle in Firth Life (1886) 287 My sister..whom I..loved with a supernatural affection. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xvii, He seemed suddenly animated with supernatural strength. 1814Mrs. J. West Alicia de Lacy IV. 249 A supernatural share of fortitude appeared communicated to this long-suffering lady. 1874H. 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 n.
1. absol. with the. That which is supernatural.
1830Scott Monast. Introd., The introduction of the super⁓natural and marvellous. 1867H. Macmillan Bible Teach. Pref. (1870) p. vi, The supernatural is not antagonistic to the constitution of nature, but is the eternal source of it. 1905Chesterton Heretics 99 Take away the supernatural, and what remains is the unnatural.
2. n. pl. Supernatural things.
In quot. 1587 applied to Aristotle's Metaphysics (see the etym. of metaphysics).
1587Golding 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. 1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. i. 705 If a Wise-man..By th' onely power of Plants and Minerals Can work a thousand super-naturals. a1656Hales 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? 1722De 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. 1891But 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.
1729S. Johnson (title) Hurlothrumbo; or, the Super-Natural. 1801Southey in Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 386 In Milton and in Klopstock..the supernaturals are the agents, the figures, not the wires. 1836C. P. Traill Backw. Canada x. 153 This is too matter-of-fact country for such supernaturals to visit. 1886C. Rogers Soc. Life Scot. xxi. III. 338 There was a supernatural which had its home in hill centres... This was the ‘Urisk’.
Hence superˈnaturaldom (nonce-wd.), the realm of supernatural things or beings.
1867A. J. Wilson Vashti vi, The popular nerve, which closely connected the community with supernaturaldom, thrilled afresh. |