preternaturalismn.
/ˌpriːtəˈnatʃ(ə)rəlɪz(ə)m/, /ˌpriːtəˈnatʃ(ə)rl̩ɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈˌprɛdərˈnætʃ(ə)rəˌlɪz(ə)m/, /ˈˌpridərˈnætʃ(ə)rəˌlɪz(ə)m/ 1.
a. The character or condition of being preternatural; that which is preternatural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > [noun] > quality of being
supernaturality1581
supernaturalness1657
supernaturalism1764
preternaturalism1834
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > irregularity > unconformity > abnormality > [noun] > condition of being abnormal or unnatural
unkindnessc1390
unnaturalness?a1425
monstrosity1639
prodigiousness1649
preternaturality1666
preternaturalness1695
abnormity1724
unnaturalism1754
unnaturality1819
non-naturality1827
preternaturalism1834
non-naturalness1878
1834 Fraser's Mag. Dec. 702/2 Byron's drama partakes both of Hamlet and Macbeth. It is the incest of the one with the preternaturalism of the other.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. iii. viii. 215 Saturated through every fibre with Preternaturalism of Suspicion.
1955 J. T. Soby tr. G. de Chirico in Giorgio de Chirico 27 Böcklin also exploited the tragic aspects of statuary..created an entire world of his own.., combining the preternaturalism of the Italian landscape with architectural elements.
1989 W. Templeton States of Estrangement i. 26 Helena..has suggested the Isle of Wight more for its remoteness from London, and Beatrice, than from any inherent preternaturalism.
b. As a count noun: a preternatural occurrence. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > [noun] > supernatural thing(s)
supernaturals1605
supernaturality1665
wishtnessc1800
supernaturalisms1829
preternaturalism1858
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > irregularity > unconformity > abnormality > [noun] > condition of being abnormal or unnatural > that which is
monsterc1384
prodigy1595
aberration1615
unnatural1627
preternatural1674
nonsuch?1706
frisk of nature1809
freak of nature1847
preternaturalism1858
hodmandod1881
1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia II. vi. ii. 10 Among the simple People, arose rumours of omens, preternaturalisms, for and against.
1876 R. F. Burton Two Trips Gorilla Land I. iv. 105 There is reason in the order, ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’, without having recourse to the supernaturalisms and preternaturalisms, which have unobligingly disappeared when Science most wants them.
2. A belief in or representation of the preternatural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > [noun] > science or subject of
subterranean geography1624
non-natural1696
supernaturalism1796
supranaturalism1821
hypophysicsa1834
hyperphysics1855
preternaturalism1864
1864 Realm 8 June 7 ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Zanoni’ are powerful books, but their præternaturalism seems forced and unreal.
1872 A. B. Alcott Concord Days, Sleep & Dreams 204 A faith, were such possible, destitute of an element of preternaturalism, or of mysticism.
1882 M. Arnold in 19th Cent. May 695 A religion of preternaturalism is doomed.
1952 K. H. Dunshee As you pass By 219 Many evenings they entertained their clairvoyant for they all believed in and were deeply interested in preternaturalism.
1993 Observer (Nexis) 14 Feb. 59 Herbert was brought up a Catholic, a fact honoured more in his books' titles (The Jonah, Shrine, Sepulchre, Creed) than in their plots, where a woozy, sci-fi preternaturalism prevails.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1834