Mystery



GRE 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. 神秘的事; 神秘小说
• ［英］ 神秘的事, 不可思议的事 ( something which cannot be explained or understood)

Webster Collegiate

I. noun (plural -teries)

• Etymology: Middle English mysterie, from Latin mysterium, from Greek mystērion, from mystēs initiate
• Date: 14th century
• 1.
  • a. a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand
  • b.
    • (1) any of the 15 events (as the Nativity, the Crucifixion, or the Assumption) serving as a subject for meditation during the saying of the rosary
    • (2) capitalized a Christian sacrament; specifically Eucharist
  • c.
    • (1) a secret religious rite believed (as in Eleusinian and Mithraic cults) to impart enduring bliss to the initiate
    • (2) a cult devoted to such rites
• 2.
  • a. something not understood or beyond understanding ; enigma
  • b. obsolete a private secret
  • c. the secret or specialized practices or ritual peculiar to an occupation or a body of people <the mysteries of the tailor's craft>
  • d. a piece of fiction dealing usually with the solution of a mysterious crime
• 3. profound, inexplicable, or secretive quality or character <the mystery of her smile>
• Synonyms:
  • mystery, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle mean something which baffles or perplexes. mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation <the mystery of the stone monoliths>. problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern<problems created by high technology>. enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret<his suicide remains an enigma>. riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction<the riddle of the reclusive pop star>. puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution<the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police>.

II. noun (plural -teries)

• Etymology: Middle English ministry, office, craft, from Anglo-French mesterie, from Late Latin misterium, mysterium, alteration of ministerium service, occupation, from minister servant — more at minister
• Date: 14th century
• 1. archaic trade, craft
• 2. archaic a body of persons engaged in a particular trade, business, or profession ; guild
• 3. mystery play

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