What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Mystery vs Common - What's the difference?

mystery | common |

As nouns the difference between mystery and common

is that mystery is something secret or unexplainable; an unknown while common is mutual good, shared by more than one.

As an adjective common is

mutual; shared by more than one.

As a verb common is

(obsolete) to communicate (something).

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) (1667–1745)
  • 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
  • S9
  • common

    English

    (wikipedia common)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Mutual; shared by more than one.
  • * , chapter=19
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.}}
  • Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}}
  • Found in large numbers or in a large quantity.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03, author=Lee A. Groat, title=Gemstones
  • , volume=100, issue=2, page=128, magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are […] . (Common gem materials not addressed in this article include amber, amethyst, chalcedony, garnet, lazurite, malachite, opals, peridot, rhodonite, spinel, tourmaline, turquoise and zircon.)}}
  • Simple, ordinary or vulgar.
  • * Washington Irving
  • the honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life
  • * Shakespeare
  • This fact was infamous / And ill beseeming any common man, / Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.
  • * A. Murphy
  • above the vulgar flight of common souls
  • *
  • She was frankly disappointed. For some reason she had thought to discover a burglar of one or another accepted type—either a dashing cracksman in full-blown evening dress, lithe, polished, pantherish, or a common yegg, a red-eyed, unshaven burly brute in the rags and tatters of a tramp.
  • (grammar) In some languages, particularly Germanic languages, of the gender originating from the coalescence of the masculine and feminine categories of nouns.
  • Of or pertaining to uncapitalized nouns in English, i.e., common nouns vs. proper nouns.
  • Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.
  • (obsolete) Profane; polluted.
  • * Bible, Acts x. 15
  • What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common .
  • (obsolete) Given to lewd habits; prostitute.
  • * L'Estrange
  • a dame who herself was common

    Synonyms

    * (mutual ): mutual, shared * (usual ): normal, ordinary, standard, usual * (occurring in large numbers or in a large quantity ): widespread * See also

    Antonyms

    * (mutual ): personal, individual * (usual ): rare, unusual, uncommon * (occurring in large numbers or in a large quantity ): few and far between, rare, uncommon

    See also

    * (English grammar ): epicene, feminine, masculine, neuter

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Mutual good, shared by more than one.
  • A tract of land in common ownership; common land.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1944, author=(w)
  • , title= The Three Corpse Trick, chapter=5 , passage=The hovel stood in the centre of what had once been a vegetable garden, but was now a patch of rank weeds. Surrounding this, almost like a zareba, was an irregular ring of gorse and brambles, an unclaimed vestige of the original common .}}
  • The people; the community.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • the weal o' the common
  • (label) The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To communicate (something).
  • * 1526 , William Tyndale, trans, Bible , Luke XXII:
  • Then entred Satan into Judas, whose syr name was iscariot (which was of the nombre off the twelve) and he went his waye, and commened with the hye prestes and officers, how he wolde betraye hym vnto them.
  • (obsolete) To converse, talk.
  • * , II.ix:
  • So long as Guyon with her commoned , / Vnto the ground she cast her modest eye [...].
  • * Grafton
  • Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of.
  • (obsolete) To have sex.
  • (obsolete) To participate.
  • (Sir Thomas More)
  • (obsolete) To have a joint right with others in common ground.
  • (Johnson)
  • (obsolete) To board together; to eat at a table in common.
  • Derived terms

    * common name * commonality * common dolphin * commoner * common gender * the common good * common noun * common-or-garden * commonplace * commons * common radish * commonsense * common touch * House of Commons * in common