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or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon; irregular; abnormal; as, a preternatural appearance; a preternatural stillness; a preternatural presentation (in childbirth) or labor. This vile and preternatural temper of mind. South.

The state of being preternatural; a preternatural condition.

Preternaturalness. [R.] Dr. John Smith.

In a preternatural manner or degree. Bacon.

The quality or state of being preternatural.

A soft, pulsating, hollow tumor, containing blood, arising from the preternatural dilation or rupture of the coats of an artery. [Written also aneurysm.]

An unexpected, wonderful, or preternatural appearance; a ghost; a specter; a phantom. "The heavenly bands . . . a glorious apparition." Milton. I think it is the weakness of mine eyes That shapes this monstrous apparition. Shak.

Any preternatural labor, in whiche the boly of the child lies across the pelvis of the mother, so that the shoulder, arm, or trunk is the part first presented at the mouth of the uterus.

seeing or foretelling of future events; the pretended art discovering secret or future by preternatural means. There shall not be found among you any one that . . . useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter. Deut. xviii. 10.

Ghastly; preternatural. Same as Eldritch. [Scot. & Local, Eng.]

nt appendage, as, a wart or tumor; anything growing out unnaturally from anything else; a preternatural or morbid development; hence, a troublesome superfluity; an incumbrance; as, an excrescence on the body, or on a plant. "Excrescences of joy." Jer. Taylor. The excrescences of the Spanish monarchy. Addison.…

Accompanied with, or tending to cause, preternatural heat and excitement of arterial action; as, an inflammatory disease. Inflammatory crust. (Med.) Same as Buffy coat, under Buffy. -- Inflammatory fever, a variety of fever due to inflammation.

mmunicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration. And generous stout courage did inspire. Spenser. But dawning day new comfort hath inspired. Shak.

An imaginary spirit of the waters, horselike in form, vulgarly believed to warn, by preternatural noises and lights, those who are to be drowned. Jamieson.

ly the machines of the gods. Pope. The marvelous, that which exceeds natural power, or is preternatural; that which is wonderful; -- opposed to the probable.

Preternatural or supernatural. [Obs.] The golden round *Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crowned withal. Shak.

gn; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic. [Spelt also pelegrine.] "Peregrine and preternatural heat." Bacon. Peregrine falcon (Zoöl.), a courageous and swift falcon (Falco peregrinus), remarkable for its wide distribution over all the continents. The adult plumage is dark bluish ash on the back, nearly black o…

refix signifying past, by, beyond, more than; as, preter- mission, a permitting to go by; preternatural, beyond or more than is natural. [Written also præter.]

probable, that which is within the bounds of probability; that which is not unnatural or preternatural; -- opposed to the marvelous.

Something preternaturally visible; an apparition; a ghost; a phantom. The ghosts of traitors from the bridge descend, With bold fanatic specters to rejoice. Dryden.