I. ˈmist(ə)rē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English misterie, mysterie, from Latin mysterium, from Greek mystērion, from (assumed) mystos, verbal of myein to initiate into religious rites, from myein to close (used of the eyes and lips), close the eyes; perhaps akin to Norwegian mysa to wink, Latvian musin ât to whisper, murmur, Latin mutus mute — more at mute
1.
a. obsolete : a purely spiritual form or interpretation
b. : a religious truth revealed by God that man cannot know by reason alone and that once it has been revealed cannot be completely understood
c. usually capitalized : a Christian religious rite or sacrament: as
(1) : eucharist 1
(2) mysteries plural : holy mysteries
(3) : any of the 15 meditations on the events of the life of Christ forming the major part of the rosary devotion
d.
(1) : a secret non-Christian religious rite marked by the showing of sacred objects to duly initiated worshipers, the pronouncing of formulas, and the performing of ritual acts (as washing, eating and drinking, sacrificing) with a view to bettering the worshipers in this life and assuring them of life after death through union with the god thus worshiped
(2) or mystery cult or mystery religion often capitalized M : a cult chiefly among ancient Mediterranean peoples characterized by such rites — often used in plural
the Eleusinian mysteries of the Greeks and the Mithras mysteries of Persia
2. : something that has not been or cannot be explained, that is unknown to all or concealed from some and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder, or that is incomprehensible or uncomprehended
the mystery of his disappearance has never been solved
it's a mystery to me
why are they making such a mystery of their troubles
as
a. obsolete : a private secret
b.
(1) : the secret or specialized operations or processes peculiar to an occupation or accomplishment
learned the mysteries of his trade as an apprentice
baffled by the mysteries of his wife's toilette
— usually used in plural
(2) : a ritual or the practices or doctrines peculiar to some body of people (as a fraternal order or a primitive community) that are revealed only to members or initiates of that body — usually used in plural
c. archaic : a state or political secret
d. : something that is incomprehensible at a particular period or under particular circumstances but that is not normally so to people in general
the thrilling mysteries of childhood, so soon outgrown
e. or mystery story : a piece of fiction in which the evidence relating to a crime or occasionally to another mysterious event is so presented that the reader has an opportunity to solve the problem, the author's solution being the final phase of the piece
3. obsolete : a mystical or recondite cause or significance
4.
a. : profound and inexplicable quality or character : incomprehensibility
the mysteries and beauties of nature
: the quality or state of defying solution or analysis
puzzled by the mystery of her sly glance
b. : a tendency to surround things with puzzling circumstances or to make them obscure : an affectation of needless or excessive secrecy
despising mystery in their rulers
wrapped in mystery as in a cloak
Synonyms:
problem , puzzle , enigma , riddle , conundrum : mystery refers to a matter inexplicable, one that defies attempts at explanation, or to something kept secret but intriguing and compelling speculation
this mystery of growth of life — Richard Jefferies
the veil of mystery that shrouds human sleep — Webb Garrison
the disappearance of the Erebus and Terror in the Arctic was one of the great mid-Victorian mysteries — Times Literary Supplement
problem , more commonplace in its suggestions, refers to any question calling for solution or answer or to any factor causing perplexity and concern
the problem of spontaneous generation — J.B.Conant
with the shipping problem resolved by the allocation of ships to France — Current Biography
the withdrawn child or adolescent is, in the long run, more likely to become a serious psychological problem than is the mildly aggressive child — Paul Woodring
puzzle applies to any problem notably baffling and challenging one's ingenuity or skill
there are few things in the world so difficult to explain as real change; it appears to me that most scientists are far from realising the complexity of this metaphysical puzzle — W.R.Inge
enigma applies to whatever is quite obscure or inscrutable and challenges one's ingenuity for an answer
he became an enigma. One side or the other of his nature was perfectly comprehensible; but both sides together were bewildering — Jack London
just what his objectives are is an enigma, for he has been extremely adept in refusing to commit himself too far — Vance Johnson
riddle indicates a question or problem involving paradox or contradictions, often light, and usually proposed for solution as an indication of wit or intellect
I've got a brand-new riddle for you … what's the difference between a cat and a comma? … a comma's a pause at the end of a clause, and a cat's got claws at the end of its paws — J.W.Ellison b.1929
conundrum may apply to punning riddles or to unsolvable problems inviting speculation
Octavius — he was not for nothing the scion of banking stock — looked beyond the political conundrum to the economic problems of the land — John Buchan
II. noun
or mis·tery “
( -es )
Etymology: Late Latin mysterium, misterium, alteration (influenced by Latin mysterium mystery) of Latin ministerium work, occupation, ministry — more at ministry
1. archaic : one's occupation or calling : trade , craft , handicraft , art
2. archaic : a body of persons engaged in a particular trade, business, or profession : guild
fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery — Shakespeare
3. or mystery play
[Medieval Latin misterium, mysterium, from Late Latin]
a. : one of a class of medieval religious dramas based on Scriptural incidents and usually centering in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ
b. : this type of drama — compare miracle play , morality play