mysterious

adjective

Saymi-STEER-ee-uhs/mɪˈstɪɹi.əs/UK/mɪˈstɪə̯.ɹi.əs/

4 meanings of mysterious

1
adjective
Having traits or features that people do not fully know about.
Like a wrapped gift when you can't tell what is inside.
A mysterious light glowed in the woods every night.
The new student had a mysterious quality that intrigued everyone.
Similaruncertain, undefined, esoteric
2
adjective
Acting secretive on purpose, so others cannot figure you out.
Like a friend who hints at a secret but won't tell you.
He gave a mysterious smile and refused to say more.
She was being mysterious about her weekend plans.
Similarsecretive, secret, furtive, covert, sly
Oppositeopen, forthcoming, frank, candid
3
adjective
Hard to understand or explain clearly.
Like a puzzle with pieces that don't seem to fit.
The math problem felt mysterious to most of the class.
Cats can be mysterious creatures to people who never owned one.
Similarincomprehensible, obscure, enigmatic, inexplicable, impenetrable
Oppositeclear, comprehensible, understandable, obvious
4
adjective
Coming from a source or cause that nobody knows.
Like a letter with no name on it: you can't tell who sent it.
A mysterious package arrived with no return address.
The town suffered a mysterious illness that doctors could not trace.
Similarunexplained, strange, puzzling, inexplicable, baffling

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the word 'mystery' plus '-ous'. It probably came partly from French and partly from Latin.