mystery

1 of 2

noun (1)

mys·tery ˈmi-st(ə-)rē How to pronounce mystery (audio)

plural mysteries

: something not understood or beyond understanding : enigma

The mystery of his disappearance has never been solved.

: a piece of fiction dealing usually with the solution of a mysterious crime

Reading mysteries was her favorite pastime.

: the secret or specialized practices or ritual peculiar to an occupation or a body of people

the mysteries of the tailor's craft

obsolete : a private secret

: profound, inexplicable, or secretive quality or character

the mystery of her smile

the mysteries and beauties of nature

: a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand

the mystery of the Trinity

b(1)

: any of the 20 events (such as the Nativity, the Crucifixion, or the Assumption) serving as a subject for meditation during the saying of the rosary

(2)

capitalized : a Christian sacrament

specifically : eucharist

c(1)

: a secret religious rite believed (as in Eleusinian and Mithraic cults) to impart enduring bliss to the initiate

(2)

: a cult devoted to such rites

: mystery play

mystery

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural mysteries

archaic : trade, craft

archaic : a body of persons engaged in a particular trade, business, or profession : guild

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English mysterie "hidden religious truth, rite or event with religious significance, hidden meaning," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French misterie, borrowed from Late Latin mystērium "hidden religious truth revealed by God, religious rite, Eucharist," going back to Latin (in plural mystēria), "secret religious rites, things not to be divulged," borrowed from Greek mystḗrion, plural mystḗria "religious rite to which only initiates may be admitted, secret" (in the New Testament, "religious truth revealed by God"), from mys-, base of mýstēs "person initiated (into a religious cult)" + -tērion, suffix in words denoting instruments, place and ceremonies (derivative of -tēr, agent suffix) — more at mystic entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English mysterie "ministry, office, craft," borrowed from Medieval Latin misterium "duty, office, occupation, trade," in part Latinization of Anglo-French mester, mister (continental Old French mestier) "function, duty, pursuit, trade, craft, guild" (going back to Late Latin mīsterium, variant of Latin ministerium "office of a servant or attendant, duty, support"), in part borrowed directly from Late Latin — more at ministry

Note: Medieval and Late Latin misterium are conventionally explained as a conflation of ministerium and Late Latin mystērium "hidden religious truth, religious rite, Eucharist" (see mystery entry 1), though a Late Latin form mīsterium (assuming manuscript spellings are early) would be a natural outcome of ministerium with loss of the pre-tonic vowel and nasal consonant.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

mystery

noun

as in enigma

something hard to understand or explain why my sister married that guy is still a mystery to my parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

enigma
puzzle
riddle
secret
problem
conundrum
mystification
challenge
matter
why
puzzlement
head-scratcher
closed book
perplexity
brainteaser
stumper
case
trouble
poser
knot

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of mystery are enigma, problem, puzzle, and riddle. While all these words mean "something which baffles or perplexes," mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.

the mystery of the stone monoliths

While the synonyms enigma and mystery are close in meaning, enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.

his suicide remains an enigma

The words problem and mystery can be used in similar contexts, but problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.

problems created by high technology

The synonyms puzzle and mystery are sometimes interchangeable, but puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.

the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police

Although the words riddle and mystery have much in common, riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.

the riddle of the reclusive pop star

单词	mystery
释义	mystery 1 of 2 noun (1) mys·tery ˈmi-st(ə-)rē plural mysteries 1 a : something not understood or beyond understanding : enigma The mystery of his disappearance has never been solved. b : a piece of fiction dealing usually with the solution of a mysterious crime Reading mysteries was her favorite pastime. c : the secret or specialized practices or ritual peculiar to an occupation or a body of people the mysteries of the tailor's craft d obsolete : a private secret 2 : profound, inexplicable, or secretive quality or character the mystery of her smile the mysteries and beauties of nature 3 a : a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand the mystery of the Trinity b(1) : any of the 20 events (such as the Nativity, the Crucifixion, or the Assumption) serving as a subject for meditation during the saying of the rosary (2) capitalized : a Christian sacrament specifically : eucharist c(1) : a secret religious rite believed (as in Eleusinian and Mithraic cults) to impart enduring bliss to the initiate (2) : a cult devoted to such rites 4 : mystery play mystery 2 of 2 noun (2) plural mysteries 1 archaic : trade, craft 2 archaic : a body of persons engaged in a particular trade, business, or profession : guild Synonyms Noun (1) closed book conundrum enigma head-scratcher mystification puzzle puzzlement riddle secret why See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle English mysterie "hidden religious truth, rite or event with religious significance, hidden meaning," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French misterie, borrowed from Late Latin mystērium "hidden religious truth revealed by God, religious rite, Eucharist," going back to Latin (in plural mystēria), "secret religious rites, things not to be divulged," borrowed from Greek mystḗrion, plural mystḗria "religious rite to which only initiates may be admitted, secret" (in the New Testament, "religious truth revealed by God"), from mys-, base of mýstēs "person initiated (into a religious cult)" + -tērion, suffix in words denoting instruments, place and ceremonies (derivative of -tēr, agent suffix) — more at mystic entry 1 Noun (2) Middle English mysterie "ministry, office, craft," borrowed from Medieval Latin misterium "duty, office, occupation, trade," in part Latinization of Anglo-French mester, mister (continental Old French mestier) "function, duty, pursuit, trade, craft, guild" (going back to Late Latin mīsterium, variant of Latin ministerium "office of a servant or attendant, duty, support"), in part borrowed directly from Late Latin — more at ministry Note: Medieval and Late Latin misterium are conventionally explained as a conflation of ministerium and Late Latin mystērium "hidden religious truth, religious rite, Eucharist" (see mystery entry 1), though a Late Latin form mīsterium (assuming manuscript spellings are early) would be a natural outcome of ministerium with loss of the pre-tonic vowel and nasal consonant. First Known Use Noun (1) 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a Noun (2) 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing mystery mystery play mystery play Kids Definition mystery noun mys·tery ˈmi-stə-rē plural mysteries 1 : something that has not been or cannot be explained Her disappearance remains a mystery. Their success is a mystery to me. 2 : a piece of fiction about solving a crime mystery noun as in enigma something hard to understand or explain why my sister married that guy is still a mystery to my parents Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance enigma puzzle riddle secret problem conundrum mystification challenge matter why puzzlement head-scratcher closed book perplexity brainteaser stumper case trouble poser knot Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of mystery are enigma, problem, puzzle, and riddle. While all these words mean "something which baffles or perplexes," mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation. the mystery of the stone monoliths While the synonyms enigma and mystery are close in meaning, enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret. his suicide remains an enigma The words problem and mystery can be used in similar contexts, but problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern. problems created by high technology The synonyms puzzle and mystery are sometimes interchangeable, but puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution. the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police Although the words riddle and mystery have much in common, riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction. the riddle of the reclusive pop star
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mystery

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing mystery

Kids Definition

noun

noun

Synonym Chooser