mystery English · revision 5078

+ Mystery, a secret, and the old mystery, a craft or trade, are different words, though the second was shaped by the first.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪs.tər.i/, /ˈmɪs.tri/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|secret}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1315|origins=grc μυστήριον}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|misterie]], from Anglo-French *misterie, Old French mistere, and directly from [[la|mystērium|t=secret rite]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[grc|μυστήριον|tr=mystḗrion|t=secret rite or doctrine]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|μύστης|tr=mýstēs|t=one initiated]], from mýein “to close, shut”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) perhaps of the lips in secrecy or of the eyes, since only initiates might see the rites.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[mystic]], [[mystify]] and [[mute]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In theology, hidden spiritual meaning, ''in a mystery'' “mystically”: about 1315 in the OED, the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Barnhart dates a secret thing or a doctrine beyond human understanding to before 1333.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the Septuagint the Greek word meant the secret counsel of God, which the Vulgate translated as sacrāmentum.^(Etymonline) A religious truth known only by revelation is from 1382.^(OED 1989) The everyday sense, a hidden or unexplained thing, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A sacramental rite is from 1506,^(OED 1989) and the ancient rites of Greece and Egypt are ''mysteries'' from the 1640s.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) A detective or crime story is from 1908, in Chesterton.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Mysterious'' is from 1616,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''mystery meat'' is by 1949.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1315 – hidden spiritual meaning.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – a revealed truth.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – a hidden thing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1506 – a sacramental rite.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1908 – a detective story.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that is not understood or explained.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The quality of being strange or secret.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A story, play or film about a puzzling crime.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A religious truth known only through divine revelation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(plural)'' The secret rites of an ancient religion.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ {{homograph|2|craft}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1386|origins=la ministerium}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|misterie]], [[bor|la-med|misterium]], an alteration of Latin [[m|la|ministerium|t=service, office]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) shortened under the influence of mystērium “mystery”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline adds an influence of maistrie “mastery” on the sense.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[ministry]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Service, office, ministry: about 1386 in the OED, about 1390 in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A handicraft, trade or art is from before 1400,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) and a guild of craftsmen or merchants followed.^(AHD) The ''mystery plays'', medieval religious plays based on the Bible, are often said to have been staged by craft guilds,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the two senses were a common pun in Tudor theatre.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – service, office.^(OED 1989)

+ * a. 1400 – a craft.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(archaic)'' A trade or craft.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A [[guild]] of craftsmen or merchants.^(AHD)

+ # A [[mystery play]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mystic]]

+ * [[mystical]]

+ * [[mysticism]]

+ * [[mystify]]

+ * [[mystique]]

+ * [[mysterious]]

+ * [[ministry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}