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mystique

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Etymology and origin of the French word mystique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1380 Jean Le Fèvre, translation of La Vieille More words from the 14th century
Borrowed from
Latin mysticus
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek μύστης
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek μύω (múō)
Ancient Greek μύστης (mústēs)
Ancient Greek μυστικός (mustikós)
Latin mysticus
English mystic
French mystique
English mystique
Spanish místico
The word's journey
Derivations
From the same root
Ancient Greek μυέω (muéō) ← μύω
Ancient Greek μυστήριον (mustḗrion) ← μύστης
English mystical ← mysticus
English mysticism ← mystic

Pronunciation

Forms

mystique (plural mystiques)[1] Middle French misticque (about 1390) and mistique (1480).[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin mysticus (“relating to the mysteries”), a word much used by Christian authors,[4][3][5] which is from Ancient Greek μυστικός (mustikós, “concerning the mysteries”), from μύστης (mústēs, “initiate”).[3][6] The TLFi dates the first record to about 1380, Bloch and Wartburg to about 1376, and the Robert dictionaries to about 1390.[4][5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1380 Jean Le Fèvre's translation of La Vieille uses it as an adjective meaning “having a hidden meaning, relating to the mysteries of the faith”.[4][3]

Semantic evolution

The adjective first belonged to Christian theology: corps mistique (about 1480) named Christ and the Church, and corps mystique du Christ is found in Jodelle in 1583.[4][3] In the 17th century nouns were made from it: the feminine la mystique meant the study of mysticism (1601, Charron), the masculine le mystique the practices of mysticism (1689, Mme de Sévigné), and un, une mystique the person given to mysticism (1690, Mme de Sévigné; 1673 according to Rey).[4][3][7] The current sense of the adjective, “relating to the direct experience of God”, followed in 1704 (Trévoux), after these nouns.[4][3]

In the 19th century the noun was extended to a person who defends an ideal with extreme passion (1850, Nerval),[4] and la mystique to the exalted belief in an idea.[8][9] English took mystique from French in 1891 in the sense “atmosphere of mystery and veneration”.[10]

Timeline

  • c. 1380 – First recorded, in Jean Le Fèvre's translation of La Vieille.[4]
  • c. 1480 – Corps mistique in the Mystère du Viel Testament.[4]
  • 1601 – Charron uses la mystique for the study of mysticism.[4][6]
  • 1689 – Mme de Sévigné uses le mystique for the practices of mysticism.[4]
  • 1690 – Un mystique “a mystic” in Mme de Sévigné.[4][7]
  • 1704 – The Dictionnaire de Trévoux gives the sense “relating to the direct experience of God”.[4][11]
  • 1850 – Nerval uses it of a passionate defender of an ideal.[4]
  • 1891 – English borrows mystique.[10]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (formal) Relating to a mystery or a hidden belief beyond reason, in religion: le corps mystique du Christ, the Church.[8][4]
  2. (law) Secret, sealed: testament mystique.[8]
  3. Relating to the practices, beliefs and states of mysticisme: une vision mystique.[8][12]
  4. Of a person: inclined to mysticism.[8][12]

Noun

  1. A mystic, a person given to mysticism.[4][9]
  2. A person who defends an ideal with exaltation: un mystique de la liberté.[9][4]
  3. (feminine) The study or body of mystical practice and thought, and, by extension, an exalted belief in an idea.[4][8]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  11. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  12. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Mystique.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/mystique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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