WORD ORIGIN
noun someone who instructs others before initiation into religious mysteries or before participation in the sacraments.
a person whose teachings are said to be founded on mystical revelations.
Origin of mystagogue 1540–50; <
Latin mystagōgus <
Greek mystagōgós, equivalent to
mýst(ēs ) (see
mystic ) +
ágōgos -agogue Related forms mys·ta·go·gy [mis -tuh -goh-jee, -goj-ee] /ˈmɪs təˌgoʊ dʒi, -ˌgɒdʒ i/ mys·ta·go·gue·ry [mis -tuh -gaw-guh -ree, -gog-uh -] /ˈmɪs təˌgɔ gə ri, -ˌgɒg ə-/ noun mys·ta·gog·ic [mis-tuh -goj -ik] /ˌmɪs təˈgɒdʒ ɪk/ mys·ta·gog·i·cal , adjective mys·ta·gog·i·cal·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for mystagogy noun (in Mediterranean mystery religions) a person who instructs those who are preparing for initiation into the mysteries
Show More
Derived Forms mystagogic (ˌmɪstəˈɡɒdʒɪk ) or mystagogical , adjective mystagogically , adverb mystagogy (ˈmɪstəˌɡɒdʒɪ ), noun Word Origin for mystagogue C16: via Latin from Greek mustagōgos, from mustēs candidate for initiation + agein to lead. See mystic
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
Word Origin and History for mystagogy n. "person who initiates into mysteries," 1550s, from Latin mystagogus "a guide to the mysteries," from Greek mystagogos , from mystes "one initiated into the mysteries" (see mystery (n.1)) + agogos "leading, a leader" (see act (n.)). Related: Mystagogic ; mystagogical ; mystagogy ; mystagoguery .
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
