mystery

1
[ mis-tuh-ree, -tree ]
See synonyms for: mysterymysteries on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural mys·ter·ies.
  1. anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown: the mysteries of nature.

  2. any affair, thing, or person that presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse curiosity or speculation: The masked guest is an absolute mystery to everyone.

  1. a novel, short story, play, or film whose plot involves a crime or other event that remains puzzlingly unsettled until the very end: a mystery by Agatha Christie.

  2. obscure, puzzling, or mysterious quality or character: the mystery of Mona Lisa's smile.

  3. any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation.

  4. (in the Christian religion)

  5. an incident or scene in connection with the life of Christ, regarded as of special significance: the mysteries of the Passion.

  6. any of the 15 events in the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary meditated upon during the recitation of the rosary.

  7. mysteries,

    • ancient religions that admitted candidates by secret rites and rituals the meaning of which was known only to initiated worshipers.

    • any rites or secrets known only to those initiated: the mysteries of Freemasonry.

    • (in the Christian religion) the Eucharistic elements.

Origin of mystery

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English misteri(e), from Latin mystērium “a secret,” (plural) mystēria “secret rites,” from Greek mystḗrion, equivalent to mýs(tēs) “an initiate (into the Eleusinian mysteries)” + -tērion noun suffix; see also mystic)

Other words for mystery

Words Nearby mystery

Other definitions for mystery (2 of 2)

mystery2
[ mis-tuh-ree ]

noun,plural mys·ter·ies.Archaic.
  1. a craft or trade.

  2. a guild, as of merchants.

Origin of mystery

2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English misteri(e) “ministry, office; handicraft, art; guild” from Old French mistere and Medieval Latin misterium, variant of Latin ministerium ministry, confused with mystērium mystery1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use mystery in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mystery (1 of 2)

mystery1

/ (ˈmɪstərɪ, -trɪ) /


nounplural -teries
  1. an unexplained or inexplicable event, phenomenon, etc

  2. a person or thing that arouses curiosity or suspense because of an unknown, obscure, or enigmatic quality

  1. the state or quality of being obscure, inexplicable, or enigmatic

  2. a story, film, etc, which arouses suspense and curiosity because of facts concealed

  3. Christianity any truth that is divinely revealed but otherwise unknowable

  4. Christianity a sacramental rite, such as the Eucharist, or (when plural) the consecrated elements of the Eucharist

  5. (often plural) any of various rites of certain ancient Mediterranean religions

  6. short for mystery play

Origin of mystery

1
C14: via Latin from Greek mustērion secret rites. See mystic

British Dictionary definitions for mystery (2 of 2)

mystery2

/ (ˈmɪstərɪ) /


nounplural -teries archaic
  1. a trade, occupation, or craft

  2. a guild of craftsmen

Origin of mystery

2
C14: from Medieval Latin mistērium, from Latin ministerium occupation, from minister official

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