mysterious

Etymology

From Middle French mystérieux. English mystery + -ous.

adj

  1. Of unknown origin.
    He received a mysterious phone call this morning.
  2. Having unknown qualities.
    Our boss is a mysterious man who hardly ever meets with us.
    God moves in a myſterious way, / His wonders to perform; / He plants his footſteps in the ſea, / And rides upon the ſtorm. 1780, William Cowper, “Light Shining out of Darkneſs”, in Twenty-ſix Letters on Religious Subjects[…] To which are added Hymns[…], 4th edition, page 252
  3. Difficult to understand.
    Why he left without saying goodbye is quite mysterious.
  4. Deliberately evasive or enigmatic.
    Stop being mysterious and just tell me what you want.

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