mystagogue

[ mis-tuh-gawg, -gog ]

/ ˈmɪs təˌgɔg, -ˌgɒg /

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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.

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Origin of mystagogue

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

OTHER WORDS FROM mystagogue

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-/, nounmys·ta·gog·ic

[mis-tuh-goj-ik], /ˌmɪs təˈgɒdʒ ɪk/, mys·ta·gog·i·cal, adjectivemys·ta·gog·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for mystagogue

mystagogue

/ (ˈmɪstəˌɡɒɡ) /

noun

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

Derived forms of mystagogue

mystagogic (ˌmɪstəˈɡɒdʒɪk) or mystagogical, adjectivemystagogically, adverbmystagogy (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