supernormal
/ˌsupəɹˈnɔɹm(ə)l/
supernormal means beyond what is normal; exceeding the average or the point of reference. It carries an Arena rating of 1575, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, supernormal ranks #2,262 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #2,834 of 17,131 for Scariest Words, #3,386 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words, #3,729 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
supernormal is pronounced /ˌsupəɹˈnɔɹm(ə)l/.
Why “supernormal” is a great word
Exceeding what is normal or average in degree, quality, or intensity, occasionally verging on the paranormal without breaching natural law. Coined from the Latin prefix super- ("over, above") + normal (from Latin normalis, "made according to a carpenter's square, regular"), first recorded between 1865 and 1870. Unlike "supernatural" (which defies the laws of nature) or "abnormal" (which suggests a flawed deviation), "supernormal" describes an exceptional amplification of the ordinary. It is the athlete's performance that shatters not just records but expectations, the preternatural sharpness of senses in crisis, or the unsettling warmth of profound charisma—the haunting possibility that the zenith of human potential might be indistinguishable from magic.
Etymology
Coined from super- + normal between 1865 and 1870.
adj
- Beyond what is normal; exceeding the average or the point of reference.e.g.“Near-synonym: above average”
- Paranormal, supernatural.e.g.“For example, why is it that supernormal phenomena so often accompany mystical experiences?” — 1996, Jess Byron Hollenback, Mysticism: Experience, Response, and Empowerment:
- Both categorical and normal.
- Very normal, average.e.g.“This can be traced to his own childhood, which he experienced as super-normal, even if, to outside eyes, it was anything but.” — 2015 July 24, Gareth Cook, “The Singular Mind of Terry Tao”, in The New York Times Magazine, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
noun
- Supernormal phenomena, considered collectively.
- A being with extraordinary powers, as compared to the norm for their species.e.g.“Not long after John told me of his efforts to make contact with other supernormals he took me into his confidence about his plans for the future.” — 1935, Olaf Stapledon, Odd John, Gollancz, published 2012, page 124:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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