Dictionary

mystery en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• mĭsʹt(ə)rē
• (US) audio
• /ˈmɪs.t(ə.)ɹi/

Etymology

From Middle English mysterie, from Anglo-Norman misterie (Old French mistere), from Latin mysterium, from Ancient Greek μυστήριον (mustḗrion, “a mystery, a secret, a secret rite”), from μύστης (mústēs, “initiated one”), from μυέω (muéō, “to initiate”), from μύω (múō, “to shut”). Displaced native Old English ġerȳne.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
   • The fate of the railway from Ballater to Braemar has been invested with an air of mystery, which has never been completely dispelled. It has been suggested that Queen Victoria was opposed to a railway in the vicinity of Balmoral Castle, and intervened personally to secure the abandonment of the line beyond Ballater. 1957 January 14, H. A. Vallance, “The Deeside Railway—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 6:
   • The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff. 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:
   • The truth behind the events remains a mystery.
2. (countable, uncountable) Someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
   • Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery. 1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Hocussing of Cigarette”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:
   • That man is a mystery.
3. (countable, uncountable) An account, story, book, film, or play, often with the theme of crime or murder, with a surprise ending that explains all the strange events that have occurred.
4. (countable, uncountable) A mystery play.
   • The Moralities displayed something more of art and invention than the Mysteries; in them virtues, vices and qualities were personified, and something like a plot was frequently to be discovered. 1862, George Borrow, Wild Wales:
5. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A secret or mystical meaning.
   • […] and, not knowing the meaning or misterie of her pollicie, forgat no termes of reproche or rigorous rebuke against his chast doughter. 1567, Matteo Bandello, Certain Tragical Discourses of Bandello, tr. Geffraie Fenton
6. (countable, uncountable) A religious truth not understandable by the application of human reason alone (without divine aid).
   • 1744 (first printed), Jonathan Swift, A Sermon on the Trinity If God should please to reveal unto us this great mystery of the Trinity, or some other mysteries in our holy religion, we should not be able to understand them, unless he would bestow on us some new faculties of the mind.
7. (countable, qualifier:archaic outside Eastern Orthodoxy, uncountable) A sacrament.
   • There are seven mysteries, or sacraments, in the Greek church, viz. baptism, the chrism (a rite peculiar to this church), the eucharist, confession, ordination, marriage, and the holy oil. 1809, Sir Robert Ker Porter, Travelling Sketches in Russia and Sweden: During the Years 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808:
8. (countable, in-plural, uncountable) A secret religious celebration, admission to which was usually through initiation.
   • the Eleusinian mysteries
   • It is, indeed, part of the ritual of the candidate for adeptship into the British mysteries, resembling that for the neophyte into the Osirian, Cabiric or Orphean mysteries. 1928, Lewis Spence, Mysteries of Britain, page v. 123:
   • There’s no initiation either into such mysteries. 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 196:
   • the Mysteries of Mithras
9. (countable, uncountable) 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.
10. (archaic, countable, uncountable) A craft, art or trade; specifically a guild of craftsmen.
    • The trades, the crafts, the mysteries, would all be losers. 1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations:

Forms

Deriveds

mysteried · bibliomystery · mystery shop · mystery box · Eleusinian Mysteries · Mystery Bay · mysterama · mysterize · submystery · murder mystery · mystery shopping · mystery consumer · dramystery · Palm Island mystery disease · mystery tour · mystery-mongering · mystery play · mystery clock · mystery meat navigation · mysteriarch · bag of mystery · mystery meat · locked-room mystery · mystery shopper · mysterious · mysteryless · sex-mystery · mystery snail · mysterical · unmystery · mystery ship · mystery bag · mystery guest · mystery watch · mystery room · nonmystery · mystery cult · mystery-monger

Relateds

mystique · mystic · mystify · mystical · mysticism

Synonyms

enigma · roun

Translations (186)

sv mysterium (something secret or unexplainable) · hi सेर (something secret or unexplainable) · ur راز (something secret or unexplainable) · th ความลี้ลับ (something secret or unexplainable) · ast misteriu (something secret or unexplainable) · ky сыр (something secret or unexplainable) · mi pirikore (something secret or unexplainable) · it mistero (something secret or unexplainable) · ne रहस्य (something secret or unexplainable) · ur عُقْدَہ (something secret or unexplainable) · fa-ira مُعَمَّا (something secret or unexplainable) · la occulta (something secret or unexplainable) · he רז (something secret or unexplainable) · pdt Jeheemniss (something secret or unexplainable) · hi उक़्दा (something secret or unexplainable) · xal нууц (something secret or unexplainable) · nan-hbl 神奇 (something secret or unexplainable) · hi राज़ (something secret or unexplainable) · pl zagadka (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · la mysterium (something secret or unexplainable) · ca misteri (something secret or unexplainable) · br kevrin (something secret or unexplainable) · ru зага́дка (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · pl kryminał (account, often about crime or murder, with an ending explaining all that happened) · ms misteri (something secret or unexplainable) · ko 미스터리 (something secret or unexplainable) · uk зага́дка (something secret or unexplainable) · mn ᠨᠢᠭᠤᠴᠠ (something secret or unexplainable) · hi उक्दा (something secret or unexplainable) · sw siri (something secret or unexplainable) · lv mistērija (something secret or unexplainable) · nrf mystéthe (something secret or unexplainable) · oc mistèri (something secret or unexplainable) · be таямні́ца (something secret or unexplainable) · it arcano (something secret or unexplainable) · kk құпия (something secret or unexplainable) · tg сир (something secret or unexplainable) · az sirr (something secret or unexplainable) · tr gizem (something secret or unexplainable) · mi paki porehu (account, often about crime or murder, with an ending explaining all that happened) · sk záhada (something secret or unexplainable) · ps نوز (something secret or unexplainable) · de Geheimnis (something secret or unexplainable) · cy dirgelwch (something secret or unexplainable) · eo mistero (something secret or unexplainable) · fi arvoitus (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · tr esrâr (something secret or unexplainable) · el μυστήριο (something secret or unexplainable) · tk syr (something secret or unexplainable) · sh mìstērīj (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · km អាថ៌កំបាំង (something secret or unexplainable) · vi bí ẩn (something secret or unexplainable) · be зага́дка (something secret or unexplainable) · kmr surr (something secret or unexplainable) · it rebus (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · bg мисте́рия (event in the life of Jesus used as a focus for devotions) · de Rätsel (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · kk сыр (something secret or unexplainable) · sh за̏гоне̄тка (something secret or unexplainable) · es misterio (something secret or unexplainable) · yi מיסטעריע (something secret or unexplainable) · ja 神秘 (something secret or unexplainable) · nb mysterium (something secret or unexplainable) · grc μυστήριον (something secret or unexplainable) · eu misterio (something secret or unexplainable) · tl hiwaga (something secret or unexplainable) · ta மர்மம் (something secret or unexplainable) · fa-ira سِرّ (something secret or unexplainable) · bg та́йна (something secret or unexplainable) · lt misterija (something secret or unexplainable) · zu zinga (something secret or unexplainable) · sh та̑јна (something secret or unexplainable) · pam misteriu duala (something secret or unexplainable) · sh мѝсте̄рӣј (something secret or unexplainable) · vi huyền bí (something secret or unexplainable) · la arcanum (something secret or unexplainable) · mi pirikoko (something secret or unexplainable) · vo müster (something secret or unexplainable) · mk за́гатка (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · mn нууц (something secret or unexplainable) · cmn 奧秘 /奥秘 (something secret or unexplainable) · lo ຄວາມລຶກລັບ (something secret or unexplainable) · cmn 怪事 (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · de Rätsel (something secret or unexplainable) · mk мисте́рија (something secret or unexplainable) · sv mystär (something secret or unexplainable) · tr sır (something secret or unexplainable) · ar غُمُوض (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · kmr sirr (something secret or unexplainable) · bg мисте́рия (something secret or unexplainable) · fr mystère (something secret or unexplainable) · ko 신비 (something secret or unexplainable) · ur سِرّ (something secret or unexplainable) · mi mihiteria (event in the life of Jesus used as a focus for devotions) · mk мисте́рија (event in the life of Jesus used as a focus for devotions) · tg муаммо (something secret or unexplainable) · mt misteru (something secret or unexplainable) · fa-ira راز (something secret or unexplainable) · bg зага́дка (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · ka საიდუმლოება (something secret or unexplainable) · ja ミステリー (something secret or unexplainable) · cmn 神秘 (something secret or unexplainable) · kmr sir (something secret or unexplainable) · ug سىر (something secret or unexplainable) · ru та́йна (something secret or unexplainable) · mi mea ngaro (something secret or unexplainable) · tl misteryo (something secret or unexplainable) · grc μυστήριον (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · my စကားထာ (something secret or unexplainable) · ang ġerȳne (something secret or unexplainable) · sl skrivnost (something secret or unexplainable) · cmn 謎 /谜 (something secret or unexplainable) · la obscuritas (something secret or unexplainable) · la naturae sacra (something secret or unexplainable) · he מיסטורין (something secret or unexplainable) · mi mea huna (something secret or unexplainable) · hu rejtély (something secret or unexplainable) · ps اسرار (something secret or unexplainable) · sh tajna (something secret or unexplainable) · sh mìstērīj (something secret or unexplainable) · ro mister (something secret or unexplainable) · uk тає́мниця (something secret or unexplainable) · arc רזא (something secret or unexplainable) · he תַּעֲלוּמָה (something secret or unexplainable) · ceb tugahala (something secret or unexplainable) · it mistero (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · gl misterio (something secret or unexplainable) · ky табышмак (something secret or unexplainable) · hy առեղծված (something secret or unexplainable) · uz sir (something secret or unexplainable) · sh zagonetka (something secret or unexplainable) · hy առեղծված (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · et müsteerium (something secret or unexplainable) · hi मुअम्मा (something secret or unexplainable) · th รหัสยภาวะ (something secret or unexplainable) · mk за́гатка (something secret or unexplainable) · ru мисте́рия (event in the life of Jesus used as a focus for devotions) · ka ხვაშიადი (something secret or unexplainable) · pl tajemnica (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · kmr raz (something secret or unexplainable) · pl misterium (something secret or unexplainable) · ru зага́дка (something secret or unexplainable) · pt mistério (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · yue 神秘 (something secret or unexplainable) · id misteri (something secret or unexplainable) · cmn 怪人 (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · lt paslaptis (something secret or unexplainable) · cmn 懸疑小説 /悬疑小说 (account, often about crime or murder, with an ending explaining all that happened) · pt mistério (something secret or unexplainable) · da mysterium (something secret or unexplainable) · ur سِر (something secret or unexplainable) · pl misterium (event in the life of Jesus used as a focus for devotions) · pl tajemnica (something secret or unexplainable) · lv noslēpums (something secret or unexplainable) · srn kibritori (something secret or unexplainable) · fi salaisuus (something secret or unexplainable) · vo rätöf (something secret or unexplainable) · alt табышкак (something secret or unexplainable) · got 𐍂𐌿𐌽𐌰 (something secret or unexplainable) · mk та́јна (something secret or unexplainable) · ps سر (something secret or unexplainable) · hi राज (something secret or unexplainable) · nan-hbl 神秘 (something secret or unexplainable) · da mysterium (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · ja 不思議 (something secret or unexplainable) · cmn 謎團 /谜团 (something secret or unexplainable) · it enigma (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · ps راز (something secret or unexplainable) · hi रहस्य (something secret or unexplainable) · it enigma (something secret or unexplainable) · nl mysterie (something secret or unexplainable) · is ráðgáta (something secret or unexplainable) · pt mistério (event in the life of Jesus used as a focus for devotions) · ky табышмак (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · ar سِرّ (something secret or unexplainable) · hy գաղտնիք (something secret or unexplainable) · bn রহস্য (something secret or unexplainable) · tg роз (something secret or unexplainable) · es arcano (something secret or unexplainable) · cs záhada (something secret or unexplainable) · it mistero (event in the life of Jesus used as a focus for devotions) · sw kilinge (something secret or unexplainable) · sh мѝсте̄рӣј (someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature) · ur مُعَمَّا (something secret or unexplainable) · mfe mister (something secret or unexplainable) · sq mister (something secret or unexplainable)