mystery

mys·ter·y

noun

Mystery is defined as something that is a secret, something where there is no clear explanation, something difficult to understand or explain or something unexplainable or unsolvable.

An example of a mystery is the location of your Christmas presents.
An example of a mystery is whether there is proof that God exists.
An example of a mystery is how exactly people came to be.
An example of a mystery is a situation where it is unclear who committed a crime.

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"mystery." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mystery>.

APA Style

mystery. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mystery

mystery

noun

pl. -·ter·ies

something unexplained, unknown, or kept secret: the mystery of life
1. any thing or event that remains so secret or obscure as to excite curiosity: the new employee's past is a bit of a mystery
2. a novel, story, or play involving such an event, esp. one involving a crime and the gradual discovery of who committed it
the quality of being inexplicable; obscurity or secrecy: an air of mystery surrounding the affair
[pl.]
1. secret rites or doctrines known only to a small, esoteric group; specif., in ancient Greece, religious ceremonies or doctrines revealed only to the initiated
2. any of the ancient cults characterized by such ceremonies: the Eleusinian mysteries
Origin of mystery
? infl. by mystery
mystery play
R.C.Ch.
1. a sacrament; esp. the Eucharist
2. any of fifteen (or, now often, twenty) events in the lives of Jesus and Mary serving as a subject for meditation during the praying of the rosary
Theol. any religious truth made known only by divine revelation and accepted through faith

Origin of mystery

Middle English mysterye from Classical Latin mysterium (in New Testament , supernatural thing) from Classical Greek myst?rion, a secret rite (in New Testament , divine secret) from myst?s, one initiated into the mysteries from myein, to initiate into the mysteries, origin, originally , to close: see myope

noun

pl. -·ter·ies

a craft or trade
guild (sense )

Origin of mystery

altered from Middle English misterie, a trade, craft from Medieval Latin misterium, altered from Classical Latin ministerium, office, occupation (see minister), by confusion with mysterium (see mystery)

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MLA Style

"mystery." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mystery>.

APA Style

mystery. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mystery

mystery

noun

pl. mys·ter·ies

One that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding; an enigma: How he got in is a mystery.
One whose identity is unknown and who arouses curiosity: The woman in the photograph is a mystery.
A mysterious character or quality: a landscape with mystery and charm.
Something that is a secret: “From the first, some private trouble weighed on his mind, and since he chose to make a mystery of its cause, a biographer is bound to respect his wish” ( Henry Adams )
a. A work of fiction, such as a novel or a movie, that has a story centered around solving a puzzling crime or mysterious event.
b. A nonfictional account of a puzzling crime or mysterious event presented in the manner of a mystery.
a. A religious cult practicing secret rites to which only initiates are admitted.
b. A secret rite of such a cult.
A religious truth that is incomprehensible to reason and knowable only through divine revelation.
Christianity
a. An incident from the life of Jesus, especially the Incarnation, Passion, Crucifixion, or Resurrection, of particular importance for redemption.
b. One of the 15 incidents from the lives of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary, such as the Annunciation or the Ascension, serving in Roman Catholicism as the subject of meditation during recitation of the rosary.
a. also Mystery One of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
b. mysteries The consecrated elements of the Eucharist.
often mysteries The skills, lore, or practices that are peculiar to a particular activity or group and are regarded as the special province of initiates: the mysteries of Freemasonry; the mysteries of cooking game.
A mystery play.

Origin of mystery

Middle English misterie from Latin mystērium from Greek mustērion secret rite from mustēs an initiate from mūein to close the eyes, initiate Senses 8, 9, and perhaps 10, partly from Middle English misterie occupation, craft-guild ; see mystery².

noun

pl. mys·ter·ies Archaic

A trade or occupation.
A guild, as of merchants or artisans.

Origin of mystery

Middle English misterie from Medieval Latin misterium alteration ( influenced by Latin mystērium secret rite ) of Latin ministerium from minister assistant, servant ; see mei-² in Indo-European roots.

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.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"mystery." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mystery>.

APA Style

mystery. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mystery

Noun

(plural mysteries)

Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
The truth behind the events remains a mystery.
Someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
That man is a mystery.
(Catholicism) A particular event or series of events in the life of Christ.
The second decade of the Rosary concerns the Sorrowful mysteries, such as the crucifixion and the crowning with thorns.
(chiefly in the plural) A secret religious celebration, to which none were admitted except those who had been initiated.
the Eleusinian mysteries

Related terms

terms etymologically related to mystery

Origin

From Middle English mysterie, from Latin mysterium, from Ancient Greek Î¼Ï…ÏƒÏ„Î®ÏÎ¹Î¿Î½ (musterion, “a mystery, a secret, a secret rite"), from Î¼ÏÏƒÏ„Î·Ï‚ (mustÄ“s, “initiated one"), from Î¼Ï…ÎÏ‰ (mueÅ, “I initiate"), from Î¼ÏÏ‰ (muÅ, “I shut").

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.