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mystagogue

American  
[mis-tuh-gawg, -gog] / ˈmɪs təˌgɔg, -ˌgɒg /

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 British  
/ ˌmɪstəˈɡɒdʒɪk, ˈmɪstəˌɡɒdʒɪ, ˈmɪstəˌɡɒɡ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of mystagogue

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Dr. Alfred Rosenberg, who began life as a drawing teacher and is now chief mystagogue of National Socialism, spends much of his time in private sanatoria.

From Time Magazine Archive

The mystagogue is but too closely allied to the charlatan.

From Hours in a Library New Edition, with Additions. Vol. II (of 3) by Stephen, Leslie, Sir

The boys were, therefore, placed in a row, and the initiator or mystagogue stooped over the first boy, and, muttering some words which I could not catch, he kneaded the lad's stomach with his hands.

From Myth, Ritual And Religion, Vol. 2 (of 2) by Lang, Andrew

U and e are both silent in the words rogue, brogue, fugue, eclogue, prologue, apologue, epilogue, intrigue, fatigue, synagogue, demagogue, pedagogue, decalogue, catalogue, mystagogue, picturesque, burlesque, grotesque, pique, casique.

From Guide to the Kindergarten and Intermediate Class and Moral Culture of Infancy. by Mann, Mary E.

But in her dealings with social formulæ here in England she is, it must frankly be said, a common mystagogue.

From All Things Considered by Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith)

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