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What is the difference between enigma and mystery?

enigma | mystery |

As nouns the difference between enigma and mystery

is that enigma is something or someone puzzling, mysterious or inexplicable while mystery is something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.

As a proper noun Enigma

is a German device used during World War II to encode strategic messages.

enigma

English

(wikipedia enigma)

Alternative forms

* (chiefly archaic)

Noun

(en-noun)โ€œ enigma'โ€ listed by ' Dictionary.com Unabridged (v1ยท1)
  • Something or someone puzzling, mysterious or inexplicable.
  • A riddle, or a difficult problem.
  • References

    Anagrams

    * ----

    mystery

    English

    Noun

    (mysteries)
  • Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
  • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.}}
  • Someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
  • * (Jonathan Swift) (1667โ€“1745)
  • If God should please to reveal unto us this great mystery of the Trinity, or some other mysteries in our holy religion, we should not be able to understand them, unless he would bestow on us some new faculties of the mind.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
  • , title= , chapter=5 citation , passage=Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery .}}
  • (label) A particular event or series of events in the life of Christ.
  • A secret religious celebration, to which none were admitted except those who had been initiated.
  • Synonyms

    * roun (obsolete)

    Derived terms

    * mysterious * mystery play

    References

    * Mysteries: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch15.htm
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