antisupernatural
|an-ti-su-per-nat-ur-al|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˌsuː.pərˈnætʃ.ər.əl/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˌsuː.pəˈnætʃ.rəl/
against the supernatural
Etymology
'antisupernatural' is formed in modern English by prefixing the element 'anti-' (from Greek anti-, meaning 'against') to the adjective 'supernatural' (see below).
'supernatural' originates from Latin 'supernaturalis' (super- 'above' + naturalis 'of nature'); English 'supernatural' entered via Old French/Latin influence. The compound 'anti-' + 'supernatural' is a modern English formation created by attaching the negative prefix to the existing adjective.
The prefix 'anti-' originally meant 'against' in classical formations; in 'antisupernatural' it retains that sense, yielding the current meaning 'against the supernatural' or 'rejecting supernatural explanations.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
opposed to belief in, or to the acceptance of, supernatural phenomena or explanations; rejecting supernatural causes.
Her antisupernatural stance led her to seek scientific explanations for every strange report.
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Adjective 2
characterizing a work, argument, or approach that intentionally excludes supernatural elements (e.g., in literature, criticism, or interpretation).
The director adopted an antisupernatural tone in the adaptation, grounding events in everyday causes.
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Last updated: 2025/09/11 02:01