enigma

e·nig·ma

Which came first? It is an enigma.

noun

The definition of enigma is something or someone that is puzzling or a riddle.The word "enigma" first appeared in print in 1449. Its origins remain as mysterious as the word itself. It is likely to derive from the Latin ænigma, meaning a riddle, or the Greek, ainigma, which derives from the word ainissesthai, "to speak obscurely, speak in riddles."

An example of an enigma is the question “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

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"enigma." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/enIGMA>.

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enigma. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/enIGMA

enigma

a perplexing, usually ambiguous, statement; riddle
a perplexing, baffling, or seemingly inexplicable matter, person, etc.

Origin of enigma

Classical Latin aenigma from Classical Greek ainigma from ainissesthai, to speak in riddles from ainos, tale, story from uncertain or unknown; perhaps Indo-European base an unverified form ai-, an unverified form oi-, meaningful speech from source uncertain or unknown; perhaps Middle Irish ?eth, oath

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"enigma." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/enIGMA>.

APA Style

enigma. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/enIGMA

enigma

noun

pl. e·nig·mas, also e·nig·ma·ta

One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable.
A perplexing speech or text; a riddle.

Origin of enigma

Latin aenigma from Greek ainigma from ainissesthai ainig- to speak in riddles from ainos fable

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.