different between supernatural vs metaphysic

English

Etymology

From Middle English supernatural, supernatural, from Middle French supernaturel, from Latin supern?t?r?lis, from super (“above”) + n?t?ra (“nature; that which we are born with”), from n?tus (“born”), perfect passive participle of n?sc? (“to be born”) + adjective suffix -?lis.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s(j)u?p??nat?(?)??l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s(j)u?p??næt???l/, /?s(j)u?p??næt???l/
• (General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /?s(j)??p??n?t???(l)/

Adjective

supernatural (comparative more supernatural, superlative most supernatural)

1. Above nature; beyond or added to nature, often so considered because it is given by a deity or some force beyond that which humans are born with.

   In Roman Catholic theology, sanctifying grace is considered to be a supernatural addition to human nature.

   Stephen King's first novel is about a girl named Carrie dealing with supernatural powers.

   • March 14, 2018, Roger Penrose writing in The Guardian, 'Mind over matter': Stephen Hawking – obituary

     As with the Delphic oracle of ancient Greece, physical impairment seemed compensated by almost supernatural gifts, which allowed his mind to roam the universe freely, upon occasion enigmatically revealing some of its secrets hidden from ordinary mortal view.

2. Not of the usual; not natural; altered by forces that are not understood fully if at all.

Synonyms

• extraordinary, paranormal, preternatural, supranatural, unnatural

Antonyms

• ordinary
• natural

Translations

Noun

supernatural (plural supernaturals)

1. (countable) A supernatural being
2. (uncountable) Supernatural beings and events collectively (when used with definite article: "the supernatural")
   • 2012, Blake Morrison, The Guardian, [1]:

     Dr Johnson defended Shakespeare's use of the supernatural from the charge of implausibility on the grounds that, "The reality of witchcraft … has in all ages and countries been credited by the common people, and in most by the learned."

Translations

Middle English

Alternative forms

• supernaturel

Etymology

From Middle French supernaturel, from Latin supern?t?r?lis; equivalent to super- +? natural.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?siu?p?rna??tiu?ral/, /?siu?p?rna??tiu?r?l/, /?siu?p?rna?tiu?ral/, /?siu?p?rna?tiu?r?l/

Adjective

supernatural

1. (Late Middle English, religion) Deity-related; from God.

Descendants

• English: supernatural
• Scots: supernatural

References

• “supern??t?r?l, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-14.

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin supern?t?r?lis.

Adjective

supernatural (plural supernaturales)

1. supernatural

   Synonym: sobrenatural

English

Alternative forms

• metaphysick (obsolete)

Etymology

meta- +? physic

Adjective

metaphysic (not comparable)

1. (philosophy, archaic) Metaphysical.
   • c. 1720, Jonathan Swift, "Ode on Science," lines 32-33:

     Bring sweet philosophy along,

     In metaphysic dreams.

Noun

metaphysic (countable and uncountable, plural metaphysics)

1. (philosophy, uncountable, archaic) The field of study of metaphysics.
   • 1876, Editor, "Prefatory Words," Mind, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 5:

     With reference to general Philosophy or Metaphysic proper, psychology may be viewed as a kind of common ground whereon thinkers of widely different schools may meet.

2. (philosophy, countable) The metaphysical system of a particular philosopher or of a particular school of thought.
   • 1775, Samuel Horsley, "An Abridged State of the Weather at London in the Year 1774," Philosophical Transactions (1683-1775), vol. 65, p. 182:

     The uncertain conclusions of an ill-conducted analogy, and a false metaphysic, were mixed with a few simple precepts derived from observation, which probably made the whole of the science of prognostication in its earliest and purest state.

   • 1954, Frederick C. Copleston, "Review of Metaphysical Journal by Gabriel Marcel," Philosophy, vol. 29, no. 109, p. 170:

     It should be pointed out to the prospective reader that he will not find here the systematic presentation of a metaphysic.

   • 2003, Christine Helmer, "Mysticism and Metaphysics," The Journal of Religion, vol. 83, no. 4, p. 521:

     A Neoplatonic metaphysic is the flip side of mysticism.

3. (philosophy, countable) A fundamental principle or key concept.
   • 1927, Charles M. Perry, "A Principle for Realism," The Journal of Philosophy, vol. 24, no. 20, p. 537:

     What we need as a metaphysic and what the logical realists are at least glimpsing, is the principle of contradiction.

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.