mystical

American  

[mis-ti-kuhl] / ˈmɪs tɪ kəl /

adjective

1. mystic; of or relating to supernatural agencies, affairs, occurrences, etc..

   a strange, mystical experience.

2. of or relating to mystics or mysticism.

   mystical writings.

3. spiritually symbolic.

   a mystical vision of the hereafter.

4. obscure in meaning; mysterious.

   mystical circumstances.

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mystical British  

/ ˈmɪstɪkəl /

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of mysticism

2. Christianity having a divine or sacred significance that surpasses natural human apprehension

3. having occult or metaphysical significance, nature, or force

4. a less common word for mysterious

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Related Words

See mysterious.

Other Word Forms

• mysticality noun
• mystically adverb
• mysticalness noun

Etymology

Origin of mystical

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; mystic, -al ¹

Example Sentences

As we swam on, it struck me how we humans always found things mystical till we could explain them.

From Literature

Aleys already has a strong mystical bent, and after some time in the Begijnhof, she supposedly cures a young boy’s illness.

From Los Angeles Times

The show portrays an artist driven by an omnivorous restlessness, forever chasing and endeavoring to synthesize various artistic influences and mystical belief systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

He “has mystical tendencies, no common sense, and a Wagnerian taste for heroics and death. He was born loaded with vanities and has developed megalomania as his final decoration.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“The third man,” began my mystical aunt, her hands gliding over the globe on her table, “he is your Future.”

From Literature

Related Words

• esoteric
• magical