mysterious English · revision 7189

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1578|origins=la mysterium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mɪˈstɪə̯.ɹi.əs/ ''(UK)''; /mɪˈstɪɹi.əs/, /məˈstɪɹi.əs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|mystérieux]], from mystère, mystery,^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) or formed from Latin [[m|la|mysterium]] (see [[mystery]]) and [[-ous]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Full of mystery, obscure, unexplained: 1578 in MWU, the 1610s in Etymonline, 1622 in the OED.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of words and language it is from 1616, and of God, religion and rites from 1624.^(OED 1989) Of a person whose movements are full of mystery it is from 1620.^(OED 1989) Earlier in the same sense was mysterial (early 15th century).^(Etymonline) The Century Dictionary, quoted in Etymonline, notes that mysterious is the commonest word for what is unknown and excites curiosity, while mystic is used of what is designed to baffle all but the initiated.^(Etymonline) Cowper's ''God moves in a mysterious way'' is from the ''Olney Hymns'' (1779).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – mysterial.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1578 – first use (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1616 – of words.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1624 – of religion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1779 – God moves in a mysterious way.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Difficult or impossible to understand or explain.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # Arousing curiosity; [[enigmatic]].^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # Deliberately keeping something secret.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mysteriously]]

+ * [[mysteriousness]]

+ * [[unmysterious]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mystery]]

+ * [[mystic]]

+ * [[mystical]]

+ * [[mystify]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}