mysterious

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or being a mystery: mysterious and infinite truths.
2. Simultaneously arousing wonder and inquisitiveness, and eluding explanation or comprehension: a mysterious visitor; mysterious conduct.

[French mystérieux, from mystère, secret, from Latin mystērium. See mystery¹.]

mysteriously mys·te'ri·ous·ly adv.
mysteriousness mys·te'ri·ous·ness n.

SYNONYMS  mysterious, esoteric, arcane, occult, inscrutable. These adjectives mean beyond human power to explain or understand. Something mysterious arouses wonder and inquisitiveness: “The sea lies all about us.... In its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life” (Rachel Carson). What is esoteric is mysterious because only a select group knows and understands it: a compilation of esoteric philosophical essays. Arcane applies to what is hidden from general knowledge: arcane economic theories. Occult suggests knowledge reputedly gained only by secret, magical, or supernatural means: an occult rite. Something that is inscrutable cannot be fathomed by means of investigation or scrutiny: “It is not for me to attempt to fathom the inscrutable workings of Providence” (Earl of Birkenhead).

adjective

Difficult to explain or understand: arcane, cabalistic, cryptic, enigmatic, mystic, mystical, mystifying, occult, puzzling. See explain/baffle, knowledge/ignorance.

adj

Definition: secret, concealed
Antonyms: apparent, known, obvious, plain, public, straightforward, tangible, unmysterious

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IN BRIEF: Simultaneously arousing wonder and inquisitiveness, and eluding explanation or comprehension.

Some things arrive in their own mysterious hour, on their own terms and not yours, to be seized or relinquished forever. — Gail Goodwin.

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Common misspelling(s) of mysterious

• mysterous
• misteryous
• misterious

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - mystisk, hemmelighedsfuld

Nederlands (Dutch)
mysterieus, geheimzinnig, vreemd

Français (French)
adj. - mystérieux

Deutsch (German)
adj. - mysteriös, rätselhaft, geheimnisvoll

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - μυστηριώδης

Italiano (Italian)
misterioso

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - misterioso

Русский (Russian)
таинственный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - misterioso, místico

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - mystisk, förtegen

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
神秘的, 不可思议的, 难解的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 神秘的, 不可思議的, 難解的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 이해할 수 없는, 신비한, 비밀스러운

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 神秘的な, 不可解な, なぞめいた

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) غامض‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מסתורי, נעלם‬

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