# mysteries

/ˈmɪstɝiz/ (US) · /mˈɪstəɹiz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mysteries
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unexplained things

noun · CEFR B1

things that people do not know about or cannot explain.

For teachers: plural of mystery; matters that remain unexplained, unknown, or beyond human comprehension.

- The book explores the mysteries of the deep ocean that scientists are still studying.
- Despite centuries of research, the mysteries of human consciousness continue to elude a definitive biological explanation.

### 2. secret religious rites

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

secret religious ceremonies or beliefs, especially from ancient times.

For teachers: secret religious rites or doctrines to which only initiated people are admitted, common in ancient Greece and Rome.

- Historians study the ancient mysteries to understand how people worshipped thousands of years ago.
- The Eleusinian Mysteries were perhaps the most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece, promising initiates a better fate in the afterlife.

Usage: Often capitalized when referring to specific historical groups like the Eleusinian Mysteries.

## Examples

- The universe is full of deep mysteries.
- The priest spoke about the mysteries of faith during the Sunday morning service.
- While science attempts to quantify the physical world, many people find comfort in the spiritual mysteries that remain beyond the reach of empirical measurement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.