Chapter Superintendence to Superseminate of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Supernaculum
(Su`per*nac"u*lum) adv. & n. [NL., from L. super over + G. nagel, a nail, as of the finger, or a corruption of L. super and ungulam claw.]

1. A kind of mock Latin term intended to mean, upon the nail; — used formerly by topers. Nares.

Drinking super nagulum [supernaculum], a device of drinking, new come out of France, which is, after a man hath turned up the bottom of the cup, to drop it on his nail and make a pearl with that is left; which if it slide, and he can not make it stand on by reason there is too much, he must drink again for his penance.

Nash.

2. Good liquor, of which not enough is left to wet one's nail. Grose.

Supernal
(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.

Supernatant
(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.

Supernatation
(Su`per*na*ta"tion) n. The act of floating on the surface of a fluid. Sir T. Browne.

Supernatural
(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.

Supernaturalism
(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.]

Supernaturalist
(Su`per*nat"u*ral*ist), n. One who holds to the principles of supernaturalism.