mysterious Hear it!

mysterious definition

mys·teri·ous (mis tirē əs)

adjective

of, containing, implying, or characterized by mystery

Etymology: < L mysterium (see mystery) + -ous

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

mysterious Synonyms

mysterious

modif.

  1. Puzzling

    puzzling, enigmatic, perplexing, strange, baffling, inexplicable, insoluble, unaccountable, inscrutable, confounding, shrouded in mystery; see also difficult 2, unnatural 1.

  2. Concerning powers beyond those supposedly natural

    mystic, mystical, occult, mystifying, inscrutable, arcane, transcendental, cabalistic, spiritual, magical, abstruse, dark, veiled, strange, alchemistic, supernormal, necromantic, astrological, unknowable, unfathomable, ineffable, esoteric, numinous, cryptic, oracular, unrevealed; see also magic 1, secret 1.

  3. Not generally known

    obscure, hidden, ambiguous; see obscure 1, secret 1.

mysterious is applied to that which excites curiosity, wonder, etc. but is impossible or difficult to explain or solve a mysterious murder; what is inscrutable is completely mysterious and altogether incapable of being searched out, interpreted, or understood the inscrutable ways of God; mystical or mystic applies to that which is beyond ordinary human understanding or perception in connection with religious rites or spiritual experience


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

mysterious Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: The nature and extent of the relationship between Mr Brooks and Mr Khan is somewhat mysterious.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: The big blocky " starring " credits, reminiscent of the Superman films, seemed to make the vortex less mysterious I thought.

Modifies a noun

  • disappearance: Space ships, covert action, mysterious disappearances all are a big part of the tale.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Death and dying remain mysterious, and perhaps they always should.
mysterious usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

mysterious quotes

La moindre chose contient un peu d'inconnu. Trouvons-le. The least thing contains something mysterious. Find it.

-Maupassant, Guy de

A truly good book is something as wildly natural and primitive, mysterious and marvelous, ambrosial and fertile, as a fungus or a lichen.

-Thoreau, Henry David

mysterious quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
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APA Style

mysterious. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/mysterious

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