mysterious

[mi-steer-ee-uhs]

adjective

full of, characterized by, or involving mystery: a mysterious occurrence.

implying or suggesting a mystery: a mysterious smile.

of obscure nature, meaning, origin, etc.; puzzling; inexplicable: a mysterious inscription on the ancient tomb.

Origin of mysterious

First recorded in 1610–20; mystery¹ + -ous

Related formsmys·te·ri·ous·ly, adverbmys·te·ri·ous·ness, nounqua·si-mys·te·ri·ous, adjectivequa·si-mys·te·ri·ous·ly, adverbun·mys·te·ri·ous, adjectiveun·mys·te·ri·ous·ly, adverbun·mys·te·ri·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms for mysterious

1. secret, esoteric, occult, cryptic. 3. unfathomable, unintelligible, incomprehensible, enigmatic, impenetrable.

Synonym study

1. Mysterious, inscrutable, mystical, obscure refer to that which is not easily comprehended or explained. That which is mysterious, by being unknown or puzzling, excites curiosity, amazement, or awe: a mysterious disease. Inscrutable applies to that which is impenetrable, so enigmatic that one cannot interpret its significance: an inscrutable smile. That which is mystical has a secret significance, such as that attaching to certain rites or signs: mystical symbols. That which is obscure is discovered or comprehended dimly or with difficulty: obscure motives.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mysteriously

Contemporary Examples of mysteriously

Exactly one month after the first straw goat was erected in Gävle, it was mysteriously burned to a crisp.
Sweden’s Burning Christmas Goat
Nina Strochlic
December 25, 2014
Last year, the Home Office said the dossier had mysteriously disappeared from the archives.
Victim: I Watched British MPs Rape and Murder Young Boys
Nico Hines
December 18, 2014
Many of the quotes are mysteriously sourced, apocryphal, or misattributed.
Russell Brand’s Revolution For Morons
Michael Moynihan
November 2, 2014
However, when the Red Army reached Königsberg in 1945, the Amber Room had mysteriously vanished.
The Biggest Art Heist of WWII is Still Unsolved
October 15, 2014
The first group of whom were mysteriously attacked behind Ukrainian lines near Olginka on August 5.
Ukrainian Troops Retreat From Russian Border, Leaving 100 Kilometers Open to Invasion
Pierre Vaux
August 12, 2014

Historical Examples of mysteriously

His eyes sought for sign of his goddess, who had disappeared most mysteriously.
Chip, of the Flying U
B. M. Bower
Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
He is mysteriously above as well as before you, by this fact, that he has died.
A Dish Of Orts
George MacDonald
Mrs. Blair's tones were mysteriously, ironically significant.
The Innocent Adventuress
Mary Hastings Bradley
"She wants you," said Primmie, mysteriously, her eyes shining with excitement.
Galusha the Magnificent
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for mysteriously

mysterious

adjective

characterized by or indicative of mystery

puzzling, curious, or enigmatic

Derived Formsmysteriously, adverbmysteriousness, noun

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 mysteriously

mysterious

adj.

1610s, "full of mystery," from Latin mysterium (see mystery (n.1)) + -ous. Related: Mysteriously; mysteriousness. Earlier in same sense was mysterial (early 15c.), from Late Latin mysterialis.