SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

I was curious - All the same? What's the difference?

And, according to Webster's Dictionary ...

Paranormal:
Pronunciation: \ˌpa-rə-ˈnȯr-məl, ˈpa-rə-ˌ\
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1920

: not scientifically explainable : supernatural

Preternatural:
Pronunciation: \ˌprē-tər-ˈna-chə-rəl, -ˈnach-rəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin praeternaturalis, from Latin praeter naturam beyond nature
Date: 1580

1 : existing outside of nature
2 : exceeding what is natural or regular : extraordinary
3 : inexplicable by ordinary means; especially : psychic

Supernatural:
Pronunciation: \ˌsü-pər-ˈna-chə-rəl, -ˈnach-rəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin supernaturalis, from Latin super- + natura nature
Date: 15th century

1 : of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe; especially : of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil
2 a : departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature b : attributed to an invisible agent (as a ghost or spirit)

Interesting. I'm more familiar with the word 'paranormal' than 'preternatural' even though the latter is an older word.

Preternatural was in a book I recently read and I've seen it in a few others before, so it made me wanna look up the differences between all of these words.

I can only remember encountering 'preternatural' in Soulless so thanks for the definitions!

Welcome! :)

Amy or "Ames" wrote: "I can only remember encountering 'preternatural' in Soulless so thanks for the definitions!"

I was thinking the same thing when I was reading the definitions. :)

I forget which book I saw it in. "Soulless" isn't what I was thinking of, but I do remember it in there too. Guess people are resurrecting the term to try to stand out a bit? Dunno.

I knew I'd seen preternatural somewhere before Soulless. I'm just doing a quick re-reading of A Hunger Like No Other and there it is on page 128.

It's funny, I'm more aware of "preternatural" now. I've just spied it in Blood Song and Raised by Wolves.

Amy or "Ames" wrote: "It's funny, I'm more aware of "preternatural" now. I've just spied it in Blood Song and Raised by Wolves."

Yeah, Amy! Thank you for helping me remember, "Blood Song" was were I saw it too! :)

*wiping hands* hehe Then, my job here is done. LOL! >:)

Moning uses "preternatural" in her Fever series to describe Barrons and Briggs uses it to describe the weres. I have never looked up the distinction between preternatural and supernatural. Thank you for laying these out, I now understand why an author my use preternatural v. supernatural.

I saw it used in a book I just read, but of course I can't remember which one it was. But, I've noticed it used more and more recently. Maybe that's only b/c now that I've looked into the breakdown I'm more aware of it when I see it (them) in a book.