mystagogue

[ mis-tuh-gawg, -gog ]

noun

1. someone who instructs others before initiation into religious mysteries or before participation in the sacraments.
2. a person whose teachings are said to be founded on mystical revelations.

mystagogue

/ ˈmɪstəˌɡɒdʒɪ; ˌmɪstəˈɡɒdʒɪk; ˈmɪstəˌɡɒɡ /

noun

1. (in Mediterranean mystery religions) a person who instructs those who are preparing for initiation into the mysteries

Derived Forms

• ˌmystaˈgogically, adverb
• mystagogic, adjective
• mystagogy, noun

Other Words From

• mys·ta·go·gy [mis, -t, uh, -goh-jee, -goj-ee], mys·ta·go·gue·ry [mis, -t, uh, -gaw-g, uh, -ree, -gog-, uh, -], noun
• mys·ta·gog·ic [mis-t, uh, -, goj, -ik], mysta·gogi·cal adjective
• mysta·gogi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mystagogue¹

1540–50; < Latin mystagōgus < Greek mystagōgós, equivalent to mýst ( ēs ) ( mystic ) + ágōgos -agogue

Word History and Origins

Origin of mystagogue¹

C16: via Latin from Greek mustagōgos, from mustēs candidate for initiation + agein to lead. See mystic

Example Sentences

He had none of the airs of mystagogue, but talked to men, as he did to beasts, in the speech which was habitual to them.

From Project Gutenberg

Meursius,” says his editor, “was the true and legitimate mystagogue to the sanctuarius of Greece.

From Project Gutenberg

But Barrs was too sprightly a spirit to remain a mystagogue.

From Project Gutenberg

Henri Bergson is a mystagogue, and all mystagogues are mythomaniacs.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless he was no anarchist and no mystagogue; and even where he was defective, his defect has commonly been stated wrongly.

From Project Gutenberg