English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
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, “I initiate”), from μύω (múō, “I shut”). Displaced native Old English ġerȳne.
Pronunciation[edit]
- enPR: mĭsʹtərē, mĭsʹtrē, IPA(key): /ˈmɪstəɹi/, /ˈmɪstɹi/
- Rhymes: -ɪstəɹi
- Hyphenation: mys‧te‧ry,
- myst‧ery
Noun[edit]
mystery (countable and uncountable, plural mysteries)
- Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
-
The truth behind the events remains a mystery.
-
1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:
-
The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.
-
-
- Someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
-
That man is a mystery.
-
1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 5, in The Hocussing of Cigarette[1]:
-
Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery.
-
-
- (obsolete) A secret or mystical meaning.
- 1567, Matteo Bandello, Certain Tragical Discourses of Bandello, tr. Geffraie Fenton:
- …and, not knowing the meaning or misterie of her pollicie, forgat no termes of reproche or rigorous rebuke against his chast doughter.
- 1567, Matteo Bandello, Certain Tragical Discourses of Bandello, tr. Geffraie Fenton:
- A religious truth not understandable by the application of human reason alone (without divine aid).
- 1744 (first printed), Jonathan Swift, A Sermon on the Trinity
- If God should please to reveal unto us this great mystery of the Trinity, or some other mysteries in our holy religion, we should not be able to understand them, unless he would bestow on us some new faculties of the mind.
- 1744 (first printed), Jonathan Swift, A Sermon on the Trinity
- (archaic outside Eastern Orthodoxy) A sacrament.
- 1809, Sir Robert Ker Porter, Travelling Sketches in Russia and Sweden: During the Years 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808:
- There are seven mysteries, or sacraments, in the Greek church, viz. baptism, the chrism (a rite peculiar to this church), the eucharist, confession, ordination, marriage, and the holy oil.
- 1809, Sir Robert Ker Porter, Travelling Sketches in Russia and Sweden: During the Years 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808:
- (chiefly in the plural) A secret religious celebration, admission to which was usually through initiation.
-
the Mysteries of Mithras
-
1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 196:
-
There’s no initiation either into such mysteries.
-
-
- (Catholicism) A particular event or series of events in the life of Christ.
-
The second decade of the Rosary concerns the Sorrowful mysteries, such as the crucifixion and the crowning with thorns.
-
- A craft, art or trade; specifically a guild of craftsmen.[1]
- 1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
- The trades, the crafts, the mysteries, would all be losers.
- 1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
Synonyms[edit]
- roun (obsolete)
Derived terms[edit]
Terms derived from mystery
[edit]
Terms etymologically related to mystery
Translations[edit]
something secret or unexplainable
- Albanian: mister (sq) m
- Arabic: سِرّ (ar) m (sirr)
- Armenian: գաղտնիք (hy) (gałtnikʿ), առեղծված (hy) (aṙełcvac)
- Assamese: please add this translation if you can
- Asturian: misteriu m
- Azerbaijani: sirr (az)
- Basque: misterio
- Belarusian: таямні́ца f (tajamníca), зага́дка f (zahádka)
- Bengali: রহস্য (bn) (rohośśo)
- Breton: kevrin (br) m
- Bulgarian: мисте́рия (bg) f (mistérija), та́йна (bg) f (tájna)
- Burmese: စကားထာ (my) (ca.ka:hta)
- Catalan: misteri (ca) m
- Cebuano: tugahala
- Chinese:
- Cantonese: 神祕／神秘 (san4 bei3)
- Mandarin: 神祕／神秘 (zh) (shénmì)
- Min Nan: 神祕／神秘 (zh-min-nan) (sîn-pì)
- Min Nan: 神奇 (zh-min-nan) (sîn-kî)
- Czech: záhada (cs) f
- Danish: mysterium n
- Dutch: mysterie (nl) n
- Esperanto: mistero (eo)
- Estonian: müsteerium
- Finnish: salaisuus (fi)
- French: mystère (fr) m
- Galician: misterio m
- Georgian: საიდუმლოება (saidumloeba), ხვაშიადი (xvašiadi)
- German: Geheimnis (de) n, Rätsel (de) n
- Gothic: 𐍂𐌿𐌽𐌰 f (runa)
- Greek: μυστήριο (el) n (mystírio)
- Ancient: μυστήριον n (mustḗrion)
- Hebrew: תַּעֲלוּמָה (he) f (ta’aluma)
- Hindi: रहस्य (hi) f (rahasya), राज़ m (rāz), राज (hi) m (rāj), मुअम्मा (hi) m (muammā), सेर (hi) m (ser)
- Hungarian: rejtély (hu)
- Icelandic: ráðgáta f
- Indonesian: misteri (id)
- Italian: mistero (it) m, arcano (it) m, enigma (it) m
- Japanese: ミステリー (misuterī), 不思議 (ja) (ふしぎ, fushigi), 神秘 (ja) (しんぴ, shinpi)
- Kalmyk: нууц (nuuts)
- Kannada: please add this translation if you can
- Kapampangan: duwala
- Kazakh: құпия (qūpiä), сыр (kk) (syr)
- Khmer: អាថ៌កំបាំង (ʼaat kɑmbang)
- Korean: 신비(神秘) (ko) (sinbi), 미스터리 (miseuteori)
- Kurdish:
- Northern Kurdish: sir (ku), raz (ku), sirr (ku), surr (ku)
- Kyrgyz: сыр (ky) (sır)
- Lao: ຄວາມລຶກລັບ (khuām lưk lap)
- Latin: mysterium n, obscuritas, occulta, naturae sacra, arcanum n
- Latvian: noslēpums m, mistērija f
- Lithuanian: paslaptis m, misterija f
- Macedonian: та́јна f (tájna), за́гатка f (zágatka), мисте́рија f (mistérija)
- Malay: misteri
- Maltese: misteru m
- Maori: mea ngaro, pirikoko, pirikoko
- Mongolian:
- Cyrillic: нууц (mn) (nuuc)
- Mongolian: ᠨᠢᠭᠤᠴᠠ (niɣuča)
- Nepali: रहस्य (rahasya)
- Norman: mystéthe m
- Norwegian:
- Bokmål: mysterium n
- Occitan: mistèri (oc) m
- Old English: ġerȳne n
- Oriya: please add this translation if you can
- Pashto: سر (ps) m (sar), راز (ps) m (rāz), نوز m (nawz), اسرار (ps) m pl (asrãr)
- Persian: راز (fa) (râz), معما (fa) (mo’ammâ), سر (fa) (serr)
- Plautdietsch: Jeheemniss n
- Polish: tajemnica (pl) f, misterium (pl) n
- Portuguese: mistério (pt) m
- Punjabi: please add this translation if you can
- Romanian: mister (ro) n
- Russian: та́йна (ru) f (tájna), зага́дка (ru) f (zagádka)
- Serbo-Croatian:
- Cyrillic: та̑јна f, за̏гоне̄тка f, мѝсте̄рӣј m
- Roman: tajna (sh) f, zagonetka (sh) f, mìstērīj (sh) m
- Slovak: záhada f
- Slovene: skrivnost (sl) n
- Spanish: misterio (es) m, arcano (es)
- Swahili: siri (sw), kilinge (sw)
- Swedish: mysterium (sv) n, mystär (sv) c
- Tagalog: hiwaga (tl)
- Tajik: роз (roz), муаммо (tg) (muammo), сир (tg) (sir)
- Tamil: மர்மம் (ta) (marmam)
- Telugu: please add this translation if you can
- Thai: ความลี้ลับ (kwaam-líi-láp)
- Tibetan: please add this translation if you can
- Turkish: gizem (tr), esrâr, sır (tr)
- Turkmen: syr
- Ukrainian: тає́мниця (uk) f (tajémnycja), зага́дка (uk) f (zahádka)
- Urdu: راز m (rāz), سر (ur) m (sirr)
- Uyghur: سىر (sir)
- Uzbek: sir (uz)
- Vietnamese: bí ẩn (vi), huyền bí (vi)
- Volapük: müster (vo), rätöf (vo)
- Welsh: dirgelwch f
- Yiddish: מיסטעריע f (misterye)
- Zulu: zinga
References[edit]
- ^ http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch15.htm#S9
Middle English[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Anglo-Norman misterie.
Noun[edit]
mystery
- Alternative form of mysterie (“mystery”)
Etymology 2[edit]
From Old French mistere.
Noun[edit]
mystery
- Alternative form of mysterie (“duty”)
1
a
: something not understood or beyond understanding : enigma
The mystery of his disappearance has never been solved.
b
: a piece of fiction dealing usually with the solution of a mysterious crime
Reading mysteries was her favorite pastime.
c
: the secret or specialized practices or ritual peculiar to an occupation or a body of people
the mysteries of the tailor’s craft
d
obsolete
: a private secret
2
: profound, inexplicable, or secretive quality or character
the mysteries and beauties of nature
3
a
: a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand
the mystery of the Trinity
b(1)
: any of the 20 events (such as the Nativity, the Crucifixion, or the Assumption) serving as a subject for meditation during the saying of the rosary
(2)
capitalized
: a Christian sacrament
c(1)
: a secret religious rite believed (as in Eleusinian and Mithraic cults) to impart enduring bliss to the initiate
(2)
: a cult devoted to such rites
2
archaic
: a body of persons engaged in a particular trade, business, or profession : guild
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for mystery
mystery, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle mean something which baffles or perplexes.
mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.
the mystery of the stone monoliths
problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.
problems created by high technology
enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.
his suicide remains an enigma
riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.
the riddle of the reclusive pop star
puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.
the thief’s motives were a puzzle for the police
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
From buzzy biographies to literary fiction, mysteries, memoirs, and everything in between, here are the best books of 2023—so far.
—
The Editors, townandcountrymag.com, 6 Apr. 2023
Business Who’s sending mystery Uber Eats orders to L.A. neighborhoods?
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2023
That said, there are mysteries—like that of human consciousness—whose totality cannot be reduced to chemical equations, Pascual Torner admits.
—Stav Dimitropoulos, Popular Mechanics, 6 Apr. 2023
Look to the best thrillers and mysteries to keep you on the edge of your seat, get lost in the possibilities of the best sci-fi and fantasy, and spark some joy with these 14 feel-good reads.
—Molly Horan, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2023
But one mystery remained: Who shipped the manillas from Germany to the Kingdom of Benin?
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2023
Racial and ethnic slurs were snipped out of Christie’s mysteries.
—Reggie Ugwu, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2023
The eight-episode podcast delves into this mystery that reveals painful truths about police accountability and media coverage of missing people.
—USA Today, 4 Apr. 2023
Yellowjackets has any number of plot twists, timelines, mysteries, and prophecies to keep straight.
—Vulture, 4 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘mystery.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English mysterie «hidden religious truth, rite or event with religious significance, hidden meaning,» borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French misterie, borrowed from Late Latin mystērium «hidden religious truth revealed by God, religious rite, Eucharist,» going back to Latin (in plural mystēria), «secret religious rites, things not to be divulged,» borrowed from Greek mystḗrion, plural mystḗria «religious rite to which only initiates may be admitted, secret» (in the New Testament, «religious truth revealed by God»), from mys-, base of mýstēs «person initiated (into a religious cult)» + -tērion, suffix in words denoting instruments, place and ceremonies (derivative of -tēr, agent suffix) — more at mystic entry 1
Noun (2)
Middle English mysterie «ministry, office, craft,» borrowed from Medieval Latin misterium «duty, office, occupation, trade,» in part Latinization of Anglo-French mester, mister (continental Old French mestier) «function, duty, pursuit, trade, craft, guild» (going back to Late Latin mīsterium, variant of Latin ministerium «office of a servant or attendant, duty, support»), in part borrowed directly from Late Latin — more at ministry
Note:
Medieval and Late Latin misterium are conventionally explained as a conflation of ministerium and Late Latin mystērium «hidden religious truth, religious rite, Eucharist» (see mystery entry 1), though a Late Latin form mīsterium (assuming manuscript spellings are early) would be a natural outcome of ministerium with loss of the pre-tonic vowel and nasal consonant.
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of mystery was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near mystery
Cite this Entry
“Mystery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mystery. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
8 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
тайна, таинство, мистерия, таинственный
существительное ↓
- тайна
unsolved mystery — неразрешённая /неразгаданная/ тайна 
wrapped in mystery — окутанный тайной; покрытый мраком неизвестности
to make a mystery of smth. — делать из чего-л. тайну /секрет/
it is a mystery to me how he managed to do it — мне непонятно /для меня остаётся тайной/, как ему удалось это сделать
- таинственность
I see no mystery about it — я в этом не вижу ничего таинственного
- церк. таинство
- pl. тайные обряды (особ. у древних народов)
- театр. мистерия (тж. mystery play)
- разг. детективный роман или рассказ (тж. mystery book)
- уст. ремесло
- ист. гильдия
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
clarify the mystery surrounding her death — прояснить загадку её смерти
The mystery has been heightened by many embellishments in subsequent retellings. — При последующих пересказах эта история стала ещё более загадочной за счёт многократного приукрашивания.
a faint clue to the origin of the mystery — слабый намёк на разгадку этой тайны / маленький ключик к разгадке этой тайны
to expound the mystery — объяснить тайну
to hold the key to a mystery — знать разгадку тайны
murder mystery — тайна убийства
shrouded / wrapped in mystery — окутанный тайной
to clear up / fathom / solve / unravel a mystery — открыть, разгадать тайну
mystery play — театр.; ист. мистерия
bag of mystery — уст.; шутл. сосиска, колбаса
deep mystery — непостижимая загадка
mystery shopper — тайный покупатель
mystery shopping — виртуальная покупка
Примеры с переводом
It was a mystery to me.
Это было для меня тайной.
The mystery has been solved.
Тайна раскрыта.
The reason why she did it is a mystery.
По какой причине она это сделала, остаётся загадкой.
She reads a lot of mystery novels.
Она читает много детективных романов.
The book gives the reader plenty of clues to solve the mystery.
Книга даёт читателю множество подсказок, помогающих раскрыть эту тайну.
The affair is wrapped up in mystery.
Это дело окутано тайной.
How it got out is a mystery.
Как это выплыло наружу — остаётся загадкой.
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
Her dark glasses gave her an air of mystery. 
The origins of this civilization are shrouded in mystery
…the cloak of mystery that surrounds the royal family…
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
Формы слова
noun
ед. ч.(singular): mystery
мн. ч.(plural): mysteries
-
1
mystery
Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > mystery
-
2
mystery
English-Russian library and information terminology dictionary > mystery
-
3
mystery
Персональный Сократ > mystery
-
4
mystery
ˈmɪstərɪ сущ.
1) тайна, загадка, головоломка to pose a mystery ≈ представлять (собой) тайну Her disappearance poses a real mystery. ≈ Ее исчезновение ≈ это настоящая тайна. to clear up a mystery ≈ узнавать, разгадывать тайну to fathom, solve, unravel a mystery ≈ открыть, разгадать тайну unsolved mystery ≈ неразгаданная тайна murder mystery ≈ тайна убийства a mystery deepens ≈ загадка становится все запутаннее It was a mystery to me. ≈ Это было для меня тайной. shrouded, wrapped in mystery ≈ окутанный тайной Syn: puzzle, enigma, riddle I
1.
2) церк. таинство
3) литературное/драматическое произведение с захватывающим сюжетом и элементами мистики а) детективный роман, рассказ и т. п. б) ист.;
театр. мистерия
тайна — unsolved * неразрешенная /неразгаданная/ тайна — wrapped in * окутанный тайной;
покрытый мраком неизвестности — to make a * of smth. делать из чего-л. тайну /секрет/ — it is a * to me how he managed to do it мне непонятно /для меня остается тайной/, как ему удалось это сделать таинственность — I see no * about it я в этом не вижу ничего таинственного (церковное) таиство тайные обряды (особ. у древних народов) (театроведение) мистерия (тж. * play) (разговорное) детективный роман или рассказ (тж. * book) (устаревшее) ремесло( историческое) гильдия
~ тайна;
to make a mystery of делать секрет из
mystery детективный роман, рассказ ~ ист. театр. мистерия ~ attr. полный тайн;
mystery novel детективный роман ~ церк. таинство ~ тайна;
to make a mystery of делать секрет из
~ attr. полный тайн;
mystery novel детективный романБольшой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > mystery
-
5
mystery
[ˈmɪstərɪ]
mystery тайна; to make a mystery of делать секрет из mystery детективный роман, рассказ mystery ист. театр. мистерия mystery attr. полный тайн; mystery novel детективный роман mystery церк. таинство mystery тайна; to make a mystery of делать секрет из mystery attr. полный тайн; mystery novel детективный роман
English-Russian short dictionary > mystery
-
6
mystery
[‘mɪst(ə)rɪ]
сущ.
1) тайна, загадка, головоломка
shrouded / wrapped in mystery — окутанный тайной
to clear up / fathom / solve / unravel a mystery — открыть, разгадать тайну
The mystery deepens. — Загадка становится всё запутаннее.
It was a mystery to me. — Это было для меня тайной.
Her disappearance poses a real mystery. — Её исчезновение — это настоящая тайна.
Syn:
2)
рел.
тайна, (великое) таинство
а) детективный роман, рассказ
Англо-русский современный словарь > mystery
-
7
mystery
1. n тайна
2. n таинственность
3. n церк. таинство
4. n тайные обряды
5. n театр. мистерия
6. n разг. детективный роман или рассказ
7. n уст. ремесло
8. n ист. гильдия
Синонимический ряд:
1. puzzle (noun) Chinese puzzle; closed book; conundrum; enigma; mystification; puzzle; puzzlement; puzzler; riddle; why
2. secret (noun) abstruseness; cabalism; cabbalism; esotericism; secret; subtlety
Антонимический ряд:
matter-of-fact; publication; solution; truism
English-Russian base dictionary > mystery
-
8
mystery
I
[ʹmıst(ə)rı]1. 1) тайна
unsolved mystery — неразрешённая /неразгаданная/ тайна
wrapped in mystery — окутанный тайной; покрытый мраком неизвестности
to make a mystery of smth. — делать из чего-л. тайну /секрет/
it is a mystery to me how he managed to do it — мне непонятно /для меня остаётся тайной/, как ему удалось это сделать
2) таинственность
2)
тайные обряды (
у древних народов)
3.
мистерия (
mystery play)
4.
детективный роман рассказ (
mystery book)
II
[ʹmıst(ə)rı]НБАРС > mystery
-
9
mystery
тайна
имя существительное:имя прилагательное:
Англо-русский синонимический словарь > mystery
-
10
mystery
English-Russian big medical dictionary > mystery
-
11
mystery
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > mystery
-
12
mystery
[‘mɪst(ə)rɪ]
n
загадка, тайна
— mystery to smb
— solve up a mystery
— make a mystery out of smthEnglish-Russian combinatory dictionary > mystery
-
13
mystery
noun
1) тайна; to make a mystery of делать секрет из
3) детективный роман, рассказ и т. п.
5) (
attr.
) полный тайн; mystery novel детективный роман
Syn:
puzzle
* * *
* * *
* * *
[mys·ter·y || ‘mɪstərɪ]
тайна, таинство, мистерия, детективный роман* * *
загадка
мистерия
подноготная
тайна
тайнодействие
* * *
1) тайна
2) церк. таинство
3) а) детективный роман, рассказ и т. п.
б) ист.; театр. мистерияНовый англо-русский словарь > mystery
-
14
mystery
Large English-Russian phrasebook > mystery
-
15
mystery
2000 самых употребительных английских слов > mystery
-
16
mystery
Англо-русский технический словарь > mystery
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mystery
[`mɪst(ə)rɪ]
тайна, загадка, головоломка
таинство
детективный роман, рассказ
мистерия
Англо-русский большой универсальный переводческий словарь > mystery
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mystery
English-russian dictionary of physics > mystery
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mystery
тайна; загадка; мистерия; таинство; детективный роман
English-Russian dictionary of technical terms > mystery
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mystery
The Americanisms. English-Russian dictionary. > mystery
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Mystery — Mystery, mysteries, or mysterious may refer to: Contents 1 Religion 2 Culture 2.1 Genres … Wikipedia
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Mystery! — (also written MYSTERY!) is an episodic television series that debuted in 1980[1] in the USA. It airs on PBS and is produced by WGBH. The show has brought a large number of detective series and television movies most of them British productions… … Wikipedia
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Mystery — (nombre artístico, su nombre real es Erik James Horvat Markovic, nacido el 24 de septiembre de 1971[1] ) es un escritor, artista del ligue y animador canadiense. Es un innovador en la comunidad de la seducción[2] y uno de los personajes… … Wikipedia Español
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Mystery — (von engl. mystery für „Geheimnis“, „Rätsel“) ist im Deutschen die ursprünglich englische Bezeichnung für ein Genre in der Trivialliteratur, das sich am besten als eine Mischung aus Horror und Fantasy Elementen fassen lässt; seltener kommen auch… … Deutsch Wikipedia
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Mystery — • This term signifies in general that which is unknowable, or valuable knowledge that is kept secret Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Mystery Mystery … Catholic encyclopedia
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Mystery TV — logo Launched September 7, 2001 Owned by Shaw Media (50% managing partner) Groupe TVA (50%) Picture format 480i (SDTV) … Wikipedia
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Mystery TV — Allgemeine Informationen Empfang: Kabel, Satellit Länder: Kanada … Deutsch Wikipedia
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mystery — mystery, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle, conundrum are comparable when they denote something which baffles or perplexes and challenges one s power to solve it. Mystery may, especially in theological use, imply the thing s incapacity for… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
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mystery — mystery1 [mis′tə rē, mis′trē] n. pl. mysteries [ME mysterye < L mysterium (in N.T., supernatural thing) < Gr mystērion, a secret rite (in N.T., divine secret) < mystēs, one initiated into the mysteries < myein, to initiate into the… … English World dictionary
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Mystery — Mys ter*y, n.; pl. {Mysteries}. [OE. mistere, OF. mestier, F. m[ e]tier, L. ministerium. See {Ministry}.] 1. A trade; a handicraft; hence, any business with which one is usually occupied. [1913 Webster] Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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Mystery 6 — Format Mockumentary Drama Country of origin South Korea No. of episodes … Wikipedia
Other forms: mysteries
A mystery is something that baffles our understanding and cannot be explained. The giant slabs of Stonehenge, remain a mystery to this day.
The noun mystery comes from the Greek mysterion, meaning «secret rite or doctrine.» A great synonym for secret is enigma. We use this word all the time to describe stuff we don’t understand, from crop circles and UFOs to the origins of the universe and the workings of the human brain. In literature, drama, and film, a mystery is a story that centers around a crime, usually murder, which finally gets solved at the very end.
Definitions of mystery
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noun
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
“how it got out is a
mystery”-
synonyms:
closed book, enigma, secret
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noun
a story about a crime (usually murder) presented as a novel or play or movie
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synonyms:
mystery story, whodunit
see moresee less-
types:
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detective story
a narrative about someone who investigates crimes and obtains evidence leading to their resolution
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murder mystery
a narrative about a murder and how the murderer is discovered
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type of:
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story
a piece of fiction that narrates a chain of related events
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detective story
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Mystery (Greek mysterion, from myein, “to shut”, “to close”) signifies in general that which is unknowable, or valuable knowledge that is kept secret. In pagan antiquity the word mystery was used to designate certain esoteric doctrines, such as Pythagoreanism, or certain ceremonies that were performed in private or whose meaning was known only to the initiated, e.g., the Eleusinian rites, Phallic worship. In the language of the early Christians, the mysteries were those religious teachings that were carefully guarded from the knowledge of the profane.
Notion of mystery in Scripture and in theology
The Old-Testament versions use the word mysterion as an equivalent for the Hebrew sôd, “secret” (Proverbs 20:19; Judith 2:2; Sirach 22:27; 2 Maccabees 13:21). In the New Testament the word mystery is applied ordinarily to the sublime revelation of the Gospel (Matthew 13:11; Colossians 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:9; 1 Corinthians 15:51), and to the Incarnation and life of the Saviour and His manifestation by the preaching of the Apostles (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:4; 6:19; Colossians 1:26; 4:3).
In conformity with the usage of the inspired writers of the New Testament, theologians give the name mystery to revealed truths that surpass the powers of natural reason. Mystery, therefore, in its strict theological sense is not synonymous with the incomprehensible, since all that we know is incomprehensible, i.e., not adequately comprehensible as to its inner being; nor with the unknowable, since many things merely natural are accidentally unknowable, on account of their inaccessibility, e.g., things that are future, remote, or hidden. In its strict sense a mystery is a supernatural truth, one that of its very nature lies above the finite intelligence.
Theologians distinguish two classes of supernatural mysteries: the absolute (or theological) and the relative. An absolute mystery is a truth whose existence or possibility could not be discovered by a creature, and whose essence (inner substantial being) can be expressed by the finite mind only in terms of analogy, e.g., the Trinity. A relative mystery is a truth whose innermost nature alone (e.g., many of the Divine attributes), or whose existence alone (e.g., the positive ceremonial precepts of the Old Law), exceeds the natural knowing power of the creature.
Catholic doctrine
The existence of theological mysteries is a doctrine of Catholic faith defined by the Vatican Council, which declares: “If any one say that in Divine Revelation there are contained no mysteries properly so called (vera et proprie dicta mysteria), but that through reason rightly developed (per rationem rite excultam) all the dogmas of faith can be understood and demonstrated from natural principles: let him be anathema” (Sess. III, Canons, 4. De fide et Ratione, 1). This teaching is clearly explained in Scripture. The principal proof text, which was cited in part by the Vatican Council, is 1 Corinthians 2. Shorter passages are especially Ephesians 3:4-9; Colossians 1:26-27; Matthew 11:25-27; John 1:17-18. These texts speak of a mystery of God, which only infinite wisdom can understand, namely, the designs of Divine Providence and the inner life of the Godhead (see also Wisdom 9:16-17; Romans 11:33-36). Tradition abounds with testimonies that support this teaching. In the Brief “Gravissimas Inter” (Denzinger, “Enchiridion”, ed. Bannwart, nn. 1666-74), Pius IX defends the doctrine of supernatural mystery by many citations from the works of the Fathers. Numerous other patristic texts that bear on the same question are quoted and explained in Kleutgen’s “Die Theologie der Vorzeit”, II, 75 sq.; V, 220 sq.; and in Schäzler’s “Neue Untersuchungen über das Dogma von der Gnade” (Mainz, 1867), 466 sq. The manifold excellence of Christian revelation offers many theological arguments for the existence of supernatural mysteries (cf. Scheeben, “Dogmatik”, I, 24).
Mysterious
Reason and supernatural mystery
Errors
The existence of supernatural mysteries is denied by Rationalists and semi-Rationalists. Rationalists object that mysteries are degrading to reason. Their favourite argument is based on the principle that no medium exists between the reasonable and the unreasonable, from which they conclude that the mysterious is opposed to reason (Bayle, Pfleiderer). This argumentation is fallacious, since it confounds incomprehensibility with inconceivableness, superiority to reason with contradiction. The mind of a creature cannot, indeed, grasp the inner nature of the mysterious truth, but it can express that truth by analogies; it cannot fully understand the coherence and agreement of all that is contained in a mystery of faith, but it can refute successfully the objections which would make a mystery consist of mutually repugnant elements.
Rationalists further object that the revelation of mysteries would be useless, since it is the nature of reason to accept only the evident (Toland), and since the knowledge of the incomprehensible can have no influence on the moral life of mankind (Kant). To answer the first objection we have only to recall that there is a twofold evidence: the internal evidence of a thing in itself, and the external evidence of trustworthy authority. The mysteries of revelation, like the facts of history, are supported by external evidence and therefore they are evidently credible. The second difficulty rests on a false assumption. The religious life of the Christian is rooted in his faith in the supernatural, which is an anticipation of the beatific vision (St. Thomas, “Comp. Theol. ad fratrem Reg., ” cap. ii), a profound act of religious homage (Contra. Gent., I, vi), and the measure by which he judges the world and the ways of God. The history of civilization bears witness to the beneficial influence that Christian faith has exerted on the general life of mankind (cf. Gutberlet, “Apologetik,” II, 2 ed., Münster, 1895, 23).
Some Rationalists, trusting to far-fetched similarities, pretend that the Christian mysteries were borrowed from the religious and philosophical systems of Paganism. A study of the origin of Christianity suffices to show the absurdity of such an explanation. Semi-Rationalism explains mysteries either as purely natural truths expressed in symbolic language (Schelling, Baader, Sabatier), or as soluble problems of philosophy (Günther, Frohschammer). The errors of Günther were condemned in a pontifical letter to the Archbishop of Cologne in 1857, and in another to the Bishop of Breslau in 1860 (Denzinger, “Enchiridion”, ed. Bannwart, nn. 1655-1658); those of Frohschammer, in the Brief “Gravissimas Inter”, 11 Dec., 1862.
Relations of natural and supernatural truth
(a) Superiority of the Supernatural
The mysteries contained in supernatural revelation are not simply disconnected truths lying beyond the realm of natural things, but a higher, heavenly world, a mystical cosmos whose parts are united in a living bond. (Scheeben, “Dogmatik”, I, 25.) Even in those parts of this vast system that have been revealed to us there is a wonderful harmony. In his great work “Die Mysterien des Christenthums”, Scheeben has sought to show the logical connection in the supernatural order by considering its supreme mystery, the internal communication of Divine life in the Trinity, as the model and ideal of the external communication to the creature of the Divine life of grace and glory. The knowledge of the supernatural is more excellent than any human wisdom, because, although incomplete, it has a nobler object, and through its dependence on the unfailing word of God possesses a greater degree of certitude. The obscurity which surrounds the mysteries of faith results from the weakness of the human intellect, which, like the eye that gazes on the sun, is blinded by the fulness of light.
(b) Harmony of Natural and Supernatural Truth
Since all truth is from God, there can be no real warfare between reason and revelation. Supernatural mysteries as such cannot be demonstrated by reason, but the Christian apologist can always show that the arguments against their possibility are not conclusive (St. Thomas, “Suppl. Boeth. de trinitate”, Q. ii, a. 3). The nature of God which is infinite and eternal, must be incomprehensible to an intelligence that is not capable of perfect knowledge (cf. Zigliara, “Propædeutica”, I, ix). The powerlessness of science to solve the mysteries of nature, a fact that Rationalists admit, shows how limited are the resources of the human intellect (cf. Daumer, “Des Reich des Wundersamen und Geheimnissvollen,” Ratisbon, 1872). On the other hand reason is able not only to recognize wherein consists the special mysteriousness of a supernatural truth, but also to dispel to some extent the obscurity by means of natural analogies and to show the fittingness of the mystery by reasons of congruity (Council of Cologne, 1860). This was done with great success by the Fathers and the Scholastic theologians. A famous example is St. Thomas’ argument ex convenientia for the Divine processions in the Trinity (Summa Theol., I, QQ. xxvii-xxxi). (See FAITH, REASON, REVELATION.)
By John McHugh
This article is borrowed from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10662a.htm.
Sources
ZIGLIARA, Prop deutica in S. Theologiam (Rome, 1890), 45 sq., 113 sq.; SCHEEBEN, Die Mysterien des Christenthums (Freiburg, 1898); BOSSUET, Elévations à Dieu sur tous les mystères de la religion chrétienne (Paris, 1711); OTTINGER, Theologia fundamentalis, I (Freiburg, 1897), 66 sq.; NEWMAN, Critic. Essays, I (London, 1888), 41.
About this page
APA citation. (1911). Mystery. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved July 14, 2022 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10662a.htm
MLA citation. McHugh, John. “Mystery.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 14 Jul. 2022 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10662a.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Douglas J. Potter. Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
mystery — перевод на русский
/ˈmɪstəri/
— The mystery’s all gone.
— Тайна исчезла.
Mystery surrounds the shooting…
Тайна, которой окутан выстрел…
Mystery and discretion are your trump cards.
Тайна — вот ваш козырь.
And when you say, «old maid,» he says: «Eyes that sparkle with fire and mystery…
А где вы говорите «старая дева» , он говорит: «в ваших глазах сверкает огонь и тайна» .
It’s a mystery, a sinister one, believe me.
Это тайна, и зловещая, поверьте.
Показать ещё примеры для «тайна»…
a complete mystery.
абсолютная загадка.
— Hold on, Cassidy. I still can’t believe… It must be some kind of a mystery.
— Спокойно, Кэссиди, до сих пор не могу поверить, это какая-то загадка, я не могу…
All right for one mystery, but not two!
Загадка — ладно. Две — уже слишком!
Показать ещё примеры для «загадка»…
I doubt our mystery friend could manage anything that size on his own.
Сомневаюсь, что наш таинственный друг сможет в одиночку организовать что-то такого масштаба.
Mr Mystery Guest,… .. are you still there?
Мистер таинственный гость ты все еще там?
City of mystery Of enchantment.
Таинственный и чарующий город.
— It’s your mystery man on two.
Хелен, это твой таинственный мужчина на второй линии.
Ladies and gentlemen of the un-United Nations and our mystery bidder may I present Antonio Diego serial murderer, serving life in prison and sole surviving volunteer.
Дамы и господа из тех, кто не примкнул к ООН а также наш таинственный клиент разрешите представить Антонио Диего серийный убийца, отбывавший пожизненное заключение и единственный выживший подопытный.
Показать ещё примеры для «таинственный»…
MYSTERY MONSTER INCIDENT OCCURS IN TSUKIJI
ЗАГАДОЧНЫЙ СЛУЧАЙ В ЦУКИДЗИ
«Mystery fires on board unlucky ship.
«Загадочный пожар на борту корабля-неудачника.
A man of mystery!
— О, загадочный незнакомец.
Will the mystery guest please sign in?
Наш загадочный гость здесь.
A man of mystery.
Загадочный тип.
Показать ещё примеры для «загадочный»…
THE MYSTERY oF PICASSo
ТАИНСТВО ПИКАССО
The Mystery of Picasso
Таинство Пикассо.
«The mystery of the Cross commands you!
«Таинство Креста повелевает тебе!
Everything led me to this act, even the mystery of Redemption.
Все вело меня к этому поступку, даже таинство искупления.
— That’s a mystery.
Это таинство.
Показать ещё примеры для «таинство»…
I read a lot of mysteries and I just figure out the endings half way…
Я читаю много детективов и обычно всегда угадываю развязку ещё на середине.
Are you forgetting Item 1 from Top Truths for Teen Sleuths, A Crane Boys Mysteries Workbook?
Ты забыл первый пункт наших «Десяти наставлений для юных детективов»?
You read too many mystery novels as a student?
Ты, наверное, перечитала детективов, когда была студенткой?
A mystery film club…
Клуб любителей детективов?
No mystery novels, no symbols, no Oxford.
Никаких детективов, никаких символов, никакого Оксфорда.
Показать ещё примеры для «детективов»…
Yes, its secret, the mystery.
— Да, секрет.
There is no mystery as to who was stealing… most of the objects from number 26 Hickory Road, or why.
Больше не секрет, кто украл вещи из дома 26 по Гикори Роуд. И зачем.
— A fascinating mystery
Такой секрет!
So, guys, what’s the big mystery?
Итак.. в чем заключается этот большой секрет?
So that’s it? Mystery solved?
Секрет раскрыт?
Показать ещё примеры для «секрет»…
A little mystery sugarcoating.
чуточка притягательной таинственности.
Roly’s no mystery, Mr Farnon.
В Роли нет никакой таинственности, мистер Фарнон.
His social position had an air of mystery, even of crime about it.
Его положение в свете окружал ореол таинственности, быть может, даже преступности.
My last six drawings will be redolent of the mystery.
Оставшиеся шесть рисунков будут полны таинственности.
Silent, And full of mystery, as always
Тихий, и как всегда полный таинственности
Показать ещё примеры для «таинственности»…
You know, the one that our hote l-room-torching mystery man
Ты знаешь, этот который наш отельный взрыватель мистический человек использовал?
then maybe the mystery partner went with him
Возможно, мистический сообщник был с ним.
Maybe it’s the ambiguously Supernatural mystery uncle.
Может это будет амбициозный, мистический супер-дядя?
And mystery monster jumps in,
И мистический монстр скачет,
I know what happens in mystery pictures.
знаю что происходит в мистических фильмах.
Показать ещё примеры для «мистический»…
You’re a sort of mystery man even to your friends.
Вы — своего рода человек-загадка даже для своих друзей.
He’s every bit an international man of mystery.
Он человек-загадка международного масштаба.
The mystery man.
Человек-загадка.
Clark Kent, man of mystery.
Кларк Кент. Человек-загадка.
I’m her man of mystery.
Я — её человек-загадка.
Показать ещё примеры для «человек-загадка»…