English Dictionary

UNNATURALLY

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unnaturally mean? 

UNNATURALLY (adverb)
  The adverb UNNATURALLY has 3 senses:

1. in an unnatural wayplay

2. not according to nature; not by natural meansplay

3. in a manner at variance with what is natural or normalplay

  Familiarity information: UNNATURALLY used as an adverb is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


UNNATURALLY (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

In an unnatural way

Context example:

his other arm lay across his chest, unnaturally, as if placed there deliberately, for a purpose

Antonym:

naturally (in a natural or normal manner)

Pertainym:

unnatural (speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Not according to nature; not by natural means

Synonyms:

artificially; by artificial means; unnaturally

Context example:

artificially induced conditions


Sense 3

Meaning:

In a manner at variance with what is natural or normal

Context example:

The early Church not unnaturally adopted the position that failure to see the messianic character of his work was really caused by the people's own blindness

Antonym:

naturally (as might be expected)

Pertainym:

unnatural (not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature)


 Context examples 


By supposing such an affection, you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most unhappy.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The Tilneys called for her at the appointed time; and no new difficulty arising, no sudden recollection, no unexpected summons, no impertinent intrusion to disconcert their measures, my heroine was most unnaturally able to fulfil her engagement, though it was made with the hero himself.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The public not unnaturally goes on the principle that he who would heal others must himself be whole, and looks askance at the curative powers of the man whose own case is beyond the reach of his drugs.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Such a recoil is like that of a hair, made to grow out from the body, turning unnaturally upon the direction of its growth and growing into the body—a rankling, festering thing of hurt.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It was a pictorial sheet, and Jo examined the work of art nearest her, idly wondering what fortuitous concatenation of circumstances needed the melodramatic illustration of an Indian in full war costume, tumbling over a precipice with a wolf at his throat, while two infuriated young gentlemen, with unnaturally small feet and big eyes, were stabbing each other close by, and a disheveled female was flying away in the background with her mouth wide open.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Hello!" I roared, advancing toward her. My voice seemed unnaturally loud across the garden.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Talk the hind legs off a donkey." (English proverb)

"The weakness of the enemy makes our strength." (Native American proverb, Cherokee)

"If you see the fangs of the lions, don't think the lion is smiling." (Almotanabbi)

"To make an elephant out of a mosquito." (Dutch proverb)



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