supernature

English

Etymology

From super- +‎ nature.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈˌsupərˈˌneɪt͡ʃər/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsuːpəˌneɪt͡ʃə/, /ˌsuːpəˈneɪt͡ʃə/, /ˈsjuːpəˌneɪt͡ʃə/, /ˌsjuːpəˈneɪt͡ʃə/

Noun

supernature (countable and uncountable, plural supernatures)

1. A nature transcending the usual constraints of the physical world.
   • 1891, William Douglas O'Connor, “The Brazen Android”, in Three Tales‎^[1], page 181:

     "He might," said Bacon, "though I have small fear of his doubting the supernature of the android. He is much given to superstition, and his strange dream will confirm that bent of mind."

2. (theology, philosophy) A supernatural realm beyond or apart from the physical world.
   • 1881, Joseph William Reynolds, The Mystery of Miracles‎^[2], page 365:

     It is the most commont and grossest blunders of scientific diminutives, to imagine that all in nature is of nature. There are more excellent natures. We ascend the height of argument by means of supernatures. These supernatures are, so to speak, natural manifestations or degrees of the supernatural.

   • 2008, Heonik Kwon, Ghosts of War in Vietnam‎^[3], →ISBN, pages 151–152:

     These peripheral ghosts earn large amounts of money in the streets, and the money they make is a convertible currency in the sense that it enables a contest of power with other higher social classes in supernature.

3. A supernatural system beyond or apart from the laws of nature.

Related terms

• supernatural, infranatural, preternatural
• subnature, supranature

References

• “supernature, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2018.

Ido

Adverb

supernature

1. supernaturally