mysterious

mysterious
/mi stear"ee euhs/, adj.
1. full of, characterized by, or involving mystery: a mysterious occurrence.
2. implying or suggesting a mystery: a mysterious smile.
3. of obscure nature, meaning, origin, etc.; puzzling; inexplicable: a mysterious inscription on the ancient tomb.
[1610-20; MYSTERY1 + -OUS]
Syn. 1. secret, esoteric, occult, cryptic. MYSTERIOUS, INSCRUTABLE, MYSTICAL, OBSCURE refer to that which is not easily comprehended or explained. That which is MYSTERIOUS, by being unknown or puzzling, excites curiosity, amazement, or awe: a mysterious disease. INSCRUTABLE applies to that which is impenetrable, so enigmatic that one cannot interpret its significance: an inscrutable smile. That which is MYSTICAL has a secret significance, such as that attaching to certain rites or signs: mystical symbols. That which is OBSCURE is discovered or comprehended dimly or with difficulty: obscure motives. 3. unfathomable, unintelligible, incomprehensible, enigmatic, impenetrable.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • mysterious — mysterious, inscrutable, arcane mean beyond one s power to discover, understand, or explain. Something mysterious excites wonder, curiosity, or surmise yet baffles all attempts to explain it {extremes in Nature equal ends produce, in Man they… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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  • mysterious — [[t]mɪstɪ͟əriəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Someone or something that is mysterious is strange and is not known about or understood. He died in mysterious circumstances... A mysterious illness confined him to bed for over a month... The whole thing seems… …   English dictionary

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