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REFERENCE

mystery

n.
US //ˈmɪstɝi// UK //mˈɪstəɹi// mys·tery
  1. 1 something unexplained (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    something that people cannot explain or understand because they do not have enough information.

    an inexplicable or secretive phenomenon that eludes human understanding or lacks a logical explanation.

    Example

    The exact cause of the fire remains a mystery to the investigators.

    Example

    The sudden disappearance of the ancient civilisation remains a profound mystery that continues to baffle archaeologists and historians alike.
  2. 2 a genre of fiction (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a book, film, or play about a crime that is not solved until the very end.

    a fictional subgenre, typically involving a crime or murder, where the plot focuses on the process of investigation and discovery.

    Example

    She loves reading a good murder mystery before she goes to sleep.

    Example

    The author is famous for writing intricate mysteries that challenge the reader to identify the culprit before the final chapter.
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  1. 3 a puzzling person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person who is difficult to understand because they are very private or quiet.

    a person whose character, motives, or background are obscure or puzzling to others.

    Example

    He is a bit of a mystery; nobody really knows where he goes on weekends.

    Example

    Despite her public persona, her private life remained a mystery even to her closest professional associates.
  2. 4 religious truth (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    a religious belief that is impossible for humans to fully understand.

    a religious truth or dogma that is considered beyond the grasp of human reason and can only be known through divine revelation.

    Example

    The priest spoke about the mystery of faith during the Sunday service.

    Example

    Theologians have spent centuries debating the central mysteries of the faith, acknowledging that some truths remain inaccessible to pure logic.
  3. 5 a craft or trade (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    a special skill or trade that people used to learn in a guild.

    a specific craft, art, or trade, often associated with the medieval guild system.

    Example

    In the past, young men were apprenticed to learn the mystery of weaving.

    Example

    The medieval guild was responsible for protecting the secrets and mysteries of the goldsmith's trade from outside competition.
Origin

From Middle English mysterie, from Anglo-Norman misterie (Old French mistere), from Latin mysterium, from Ancient Greek μυστήριον (mustḗrion, “a mystery, a secret, a secret rite”), from μύστης (mústēs, “initiated one”), from μυέω (muéō, “to initiate”), from μύω (múō, “to shut”). Displaced native Old English ġerȳne.

Word family

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