Encyclopedia

mystery

Also found in: Dictionary, Idioms, Wikipedia.

mystery

1
1. a story, film, etc., which arouses suspense and curiosity because of facts concealed
2. Christianity any truth that is divinely revealed but otherwise unknowable
3. Christianity a sacramental rite, such as the Eucharist, or (when pl.) the consecrated elements of the Eucharist
4. any of various rites of certain ancient Mediterranean religions
5. short for mystery play

mystery

2 Archaic
a guild of craftsmen
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Mystery

abominable snowmen
the yeti of Tibet; believed to exist, yet no sure knowledge concerning them. [Asian Hist.: Wallechinsky, 443–444]
Bermuda Triangle
section of North Atlantic where many planes and ships have mysteriously disappeared. [Am. Hist.: EB, I: 1007]
Big Foot
(Sasquatch) man ape similar to the yeti; reputed to have been seen in northwestern U.S. [Am. Hist.: “Yeti” in Wallechinsky, 443–444]
closed book
medieval symbolism for the unknown. [Christian Symbolism: Appleton, 13]
Dark Lady, The
mentioned in Shakespeare’s later sonnets; she has never been positively identified. [Br. Lit.: Century Cyclopedia, I: 1191]
E = mc2
physical law of mass and energy; arcanum to layman. [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 298]
Easter Island’s statues
origin and meaning of more than two hundred statues remain unknown. [World Hist.: Wallechinsky, 443]
Eleusinian Mysteries
ancient religious rites; its secrets have never been discovered. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 305]
Lady or the Tiger, The
Stockton’s tale never reveals which fate awaits the youth who dared fall in love with the king’s daughter. [Am. Lit.: Benét, 559]
Loch Ness monster
supposed sea serpent dwelling in lake. [Scot. Hist.: Wallechinsky, 443]
Man in the Iron Mask
mysterious prisoner in reign of Louis XIV, condemned to wear black mask at all times. [Fr. Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 460]
Mary Celeste
ship found in mid-Atlantic with sails set, crew missing (1872). [Br. Hist.: Espy, 337]
Mona Lisa
enigmatic smile beguiles and bewilders. [Ital. Art: Wallechinsky, 190]
Roanoke
fate of colony has never been established (1580s). [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 430]
Sphinx
half woman, half lion; poser of almost unanswerable riddle. [Gk. Myth.: Howe, 258; Gk. Lit.: Oedipus Rex]
Stonehenge
huge monoliths with lintels in Wiltshire, England, have long confounded modern man as to purpose. [Br. Hist.: Wallechinsky, 442]
U.F.O.
unexplained and unidentified flying object. [Science: Brewer Dictionary, 1112]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
"AN IMPENETRABLE MYSTERY IS DESTINED TO HANG FOR EVER.
His revolutionary career, sustained by the sentiment and trustfulness of many women, was menaced by an impenetrable mystery - the mystery of a human brain pulsating wrongfully to the rhythm of journalistic phrases.
But just as in the case of the Mystery and the Morality, the Interlude developed out of the Morality, and the two cannot always be distinguished, some single plays being distinctly described by the authors as 'Moral Interludes.' In the Interludes the realism of the Moralities became still more pronounced, so that the typical Interlude is nothing more than a coarse farce, with no pretense at religious or ethical meaning.
The various dramatic forms from the tenth century to the middle of the sixteenth at which we have thus hastily glanced--folk-plays, mummings and disguisings, secular pageants, Mystery plays, Moralities, and Interludes--have little but a historical importance.
In the middle of the hall, opposite the great door, a platform of gold brocade, placed against the wall, a special entrance to which had been effected through a window in the corridor of the gold chamber, had been erected for the Flemish emissaries and the other great personages invited to the presentation of the mystery play.
Since the fatal hour of the mystery of The Yellow Room, we have hung about this invisible and silent woman to learn what she knows.
It was a great mystery to Herr Skopf--and, doubtless, still is.
"Your words are a mystery, too," returned the young lady.
"She knows all about the mystery and thinks it perfectly lovely-- and so do I," said the Story Girl.
Toward this they scurried as von Horn turned back into the court of mystery for the others.
In the devil devil houses, where, before the face of mystery men and women crawled in fear and trembling, he walked stiff-legged and bristling; for fresh heads were suspended there-- heads his eyes and keen nostrils identified as those of once living blacks he had known on board the Arangi.
This habit of abstention from Feeling in the best society enables a Circle the more easily to sustain the veil of mystery in which, from his earliest years, he is wont to enwrap the exact nature of his Perimeter or Circumference.
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.