Su*per"nal (?), a. [L. supernus, from super above: cf. F. supernel. See
Super-.] 1. Being in a higher place or region; locally higher; as, the
supernal orbs; supernal regions. "That supernal judge." Shak.
2. Relating or belonging to things above; celestial; heavenly; as,
supernal grace.
Not by the sufferance of supernal power.
Milton.
Su`per*na"tant (?), a. [L. supernatanus, p. pr. of supernatare to swim
above; super above + natare to swim.] Swimming above; floating on the
surface; as, oil supernatant on water.
Su`per*na*ta"tion (?), n. The act of floating on the surface of a
fluid. Sir T. Browne.
Su`per*nat"u*ral (?), a. [Pref. super- + natural: cf. OF. supernaturel,
F. surnaturel.] Being beyond, or exceeding, the power or laws of
nature; miraculous.
Syn. -- Preternatural. -- Supernatural, Preternatural. Preternatural
signifies beside nature, and supernatural, above or beyond nature. What
is very greatly aside from the ordinary course of things is
preternatural; what is above or beyond the established laws of the
universe is supernatural. The dark day which terrified all Europe
nearly a century ago was preternatural; the resurrection of the dead is
supernatural. "That form which the earth is under at present is
preternatural, like a statue made and broken again." T. Burnet. "Cures
wrought by medicines are natural operations; but the miraculous ones
wrought by Christ and his apostles were supernatural." Boyle.
That is supernatural, whether it be, that is either not in the
chain of natural cause and effect, or which acts on the chain of
cause and effect in nature, from without the chain.
Bushnell.
We must not view creation as supernatural, but we do look upon it
as miraculous.
McCosh.
The supernatural, whatever is above and beyond the scope, or the
established course, of the laws of nature. "Nature and the
supernatural." H. Bushnell.
Su`per*nat"u*ral*ism (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being
supernatural; supernaturalness.
2. (Theol.) The doctrine of a divine and supernatural agency in the
production of the miracles and revelations recorded in the Bible, and
in the grace which renews and sanctifies men, -- in opposition to the
doctrine which denies the agency of any other than physical or natural
causes in the case. [Written also supranaturalism.]
Su`per*nat"u*ral*ist, n. One who holds to the principles of
supernaturalism.
Su`per*nat`u*ral*is"tic (?), a. Of or pertaining to supernaturalism.
Su`per*nat`u*ral"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being
supernatural.
Su`per*nat"u*ral*ize (?), v. t. To treat or regard as supernatural.
Su`per*nat"u*ral*ly, adv. In a supernatural manner.
Su`per*nat"u*ral*ness, n. The quality or state of being supernatural.
Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry (?), a. [L. supernumerarius: cf. OF. supernuméraire,
F. surnuméraire. See Super-, and Numerary, Number.] 1. Exceeding the
number stated or prescribed; as, a supernumerary officer in a regiment.
2. Exceeding a necessary, usual, or required number or quality;
superfluous; as, supernumerary addresses; supernumerary expense.
Addison.
Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry, n.; pl. Supernumeraries (&?;). 1. A person or thing
beyond the number stated.
2. A person or thing beyond what is necessary or usual; especially, a
person employed not for regular service, but only to fill the place of
another in case of need; specifically, in theaters, a person who is not
a regular actor, but is employed to appear in a stage spectacle.
Su`per*oc*cip"i*tal (?), a. Supraoccipital.
Su`per*or"der (?), n. (Zoöl.) A group intermediate in importance
between an order and a subclass.
Su`per*or`di*na"tion (?), n. [Pref. super- + ordination: cf. L.
superordinatio.] The ordination of a person to fill a station already
occupied; especially, the ordination by an ecclesiastical official,
during his lifetime, of his successor. Fuller.