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

mysterious Related Forms

mys·teri·ously adverb mys·teri·ous·ness noun

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

mysterious Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: The nature and extent of the relationship between Mr Brooks and Mr Khan is somewhat mysterious.
  • deeply: I do know that there's something deeply mysterious about it.
  • equally: And the watchers headed for the tearooms, where quantities of hot drinks were made to disappear under equally mysterious circumstances!
  • rather: You'll get to take control of Kian, who's a rather mysterious warrior from the world of Arcadia.
  • slightly: The slightly mysterious pair labeled " " or " Prev.
  • very: It is a very sad, very funny, very mysterious tale, narrated by Kenneth Haigh.

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.
  • find: I don't find anything mysterious about a mother's love or a doctor's sense of professional duty.
  • seem: The love-song of the common jack snipe seemed not a whit less mysterious than partridge drumming.

Modifies a noun

  • disappearance: Space ships, covert action, mysterious disappearances all are a big part of the tale.
  • stranger: A tall, mysterious stranger had handed it to his servant in the street earlier in the evening.
  • circumstance: Two members of the group die in mysterious circumstances on the trip round the garden.
  • benefactor: Instead, when the album was finished, they left three CDs in the burial chamber for their mysterious benefactors.
  • creature: Are you brave enough to take a closer look at these mysterious creatures?
  • realm: Lost Magic is an action RPG set in a mysterious realm, where magic is everywhere.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Death and dying remain mysterious, and perhaps they always should.
  • seem: At all costs you must be practical, as examining objects which seem mysterious may lead you into the dark.
  • sound: The term " closed cities " sounds mysterious - how can a whole city be " closed " ?
  • become: Now, all these rooms are unfurnished and unoccupied, so that his expedition became more mysterious than ever.
  • look: The mist came down over the fields and everywhere looked very mysterious, and strangely beautiful.

Browse dictionary entries near mysterious

  1. mysterioso
  2. mystagogue
  3. Mysore
  4. mysid
  5. Mysia
  6. myself
  7. myrtle
  8. myrrh
  9. Myron
  10. myrobalan
  1. mystery
  2. mystery play
  3. mystic
  4. mystical
  5. mysticism
  6. mystification
  7. mystify
  8. mystique
  9. myth
  10. mythic