Dictionary / mystery
mystery
- noun
- from Anglo-Norman
Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “mystery” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- countableuncountableSomething secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
The truth behind the events remains a mystery.
- countableuncountableSomeone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
That man is a mystery.
- countableuncountableAn 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.
- countableuncountableA 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:
- countableuncountableA religious truth not understandable by the application of human reason alone (without divine aid).
- countableuncountableA 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:
- countablein pluraluncountableA secret religious celebration, admission to which was usually through initiation.
the Eleusinian mysteries
- countableuncountableA 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.
Older & obsolete senses (2)
- countableobsoleteuncountableA secret or mystical meaning.
- archaiccountableuncountableA craft, art or trade; specifically a guild of craftsmen.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (2)
- nounsomething that baffles understanding and cannot be explained — also: enigma, secret, closed book
- nouna story about a crime (usually murder) presented as a novel or play or movie — also: mystery story, whodunit
Synonyms: enigma, roun
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)mystery
- Middle Englishmysterie
- Anglo-Normanmisterie (Old French mistere)
- Latinmysterium
- Ancient Greekμυστήριον (mustḗrion) “a mystery, a secret, a secret rite”
- Ancient Greekμύστης (mústēs) “initiated one”
- Ancient Greekμυέω (muéō) “to initiate”
- Ancient Greekμύω (múō) “to shut”
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.
Derivatives — words built from “mystery”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “mystery” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “mystery” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
mystery n. [L. mysterium, Gr. mysth`rion, fr. my`sths one initiated in mysteries; cf. myei^n to initiate into the mysteries, fr. my`ein to shut the eyes. Cf. Mute, a.]
- A profound secret; something wholly unknown, or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder; something which has not been or can not be explained; hence, specifically, that which is beyond human comprehension.
- A kind of secret religious celebration, to which none were admitted except those who had been initiated by certain preparatory ceremonies; -- usually plural; as, the Eleusinian mysteries.
- The consecrated elements in the eucharist.
- Anything artfully made difficult; an enigma.
mystery n. [OE. mistere, OF. mestier, F. m, L. ministerium. See Ministry.]
- A trade; a handicraft; hence, any business with which one is usually occupied.
- A dramatic representation of a Scriptural subject, often some event in the life of Christ; a dramatic composition of this character; as, the Chester Mysteries, consisting of dramas acted by various craft associations in that city in the early part of the 14th century.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
The truth behind the events remains a mystery.
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:
nounMeaning: Someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
That man is a mystery.
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,
nounMeaning: 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:
nounMeaning: 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:
nounMeaning: A secret religious celebration, admission to which was usually through initiation.
the Eleusinian mysteries
the Mysteries of Mithras
nounMeaning: 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.
nounMeaning: something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
how it got out is a mystery
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
mystery
/ˈmɪs.t(ə.)ɹi/ · mys·te·ry
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
mystery
/ˈmɪs.t(ə.)ɹi/ · mys·te·ry · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “mystery” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — Which meaning is it?
“The truth behind the events remains a mystery.”
Circle the meaning used.
“That man is a mystery.”
Circle the meaning used.
“the Eleusinian mysteries”
Circle the meaning used.
Step 4 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “mystery” and what each means:
Step 5 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Ancient Greek μύω. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 6 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — mystery
Which meaning, sentence 1: A. Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
Which meaning, sentence 2: B. Someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
Which meaning, sentence 3: B. A secret religious celebration, admission to which was usually through initiation.
Origin: A. Anglo-Norman (Anglo-Norman misterie)
Journey: English mystery ← Middle English mysterie ← Anglo-Norman misterie ← Latin mysterium ← Ancient Greek μυστήριον ← Ancient Greek μύστης ← Ancient Greek μυέω ← Ancient Greek μύω
Some derivatives: bibliomystery, dramystery, mysterama, mysteriarch, mysterical, mysteried, mysterious, mysterize
Original meaning: Ancient Greek μύω — “to shut”
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.
Sources: Wiktionary “mystery” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mystery#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/mystery