mystery
noun /ˈmɪstri/
/ˈmɪstəri/
(plural mysteries)
- [countable] something that is difficult to understand or to explain
- It is one of the great unsolved mysteries of this century.
- Their motives remain a mystery.
- She tried to solve the mystery of the boy's sudden death.
- It is a mystery to somebody why, how, etc… It's a complete mystery to me why they chose him.
Extra Examples- He had found the clue to unlock the whole mystery
- Her poetry attempts to penetrate the dark mystery of death.
- How the disease started is one of medicine's great mysteries.
- How these insects actually communicate presents something of a mystery.
- It remains a mystery as to where he was buried.
- It was easy to believe that the house held some great mystery.
- She pondered the mystery of the disappearing thief.
- The mystery deepened when the police's only suspect was found murdered.
- The police are close to solving the mystery of the missing murder weapon.
- The silence has deepened the mystery surrounding his work.
- The witness could shed no light on the mystery of the deceased's identity.
- There's a bit of a mystery about this child.
- one of life's little mysteries
- the central mystery of the story
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- great
- little
- …
- be
- present (somebody with)
- remain
- …
- remain
- deepen
- unfold
- …
- man
- woman
- caller
- …
- mystery about
- mystery as to
- mystery to
- …
- an air of mystery
- an aura of mystery
- something of a mystery
- …
- [countable] (often used as an adjective) a person or thing that is strange and interesting because you do not know much about them or it
- He's a bit of a mystery.
- There was a mystery guest on the programme.
- The mystery man's identity remains hidden.
- a mystery disease/illness/virus
- (British English) a mystery tour (= when you do not know where you are going)
- mystery to somebody My sister is a complete mystery to me.
Extra Examples- The band was financed by a mystery backer.
- Next on the programme, Dan Green takes us on a magical mystery tour of Cumbria's music scene.
- Their suspect was a mystery man: a quiet, happily married man with no enemies.
- She was a total mystery to him despite their long association.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- great
- little
- …
- be
- present (somebody with)
- remain
- …
- remain
- deepen
- unfold
- …
- man
- woman
- caller
- …
- mystery about
- mystery as to
- mystery to
- …
- an air of mystery
- an aura of mystery
- something of a mystery
- …
- [uncountable] the quality of being difficult to understand or to explain, especially when this makes somebody/something seem interesting and exciting
- Mystery surrounds her disappearance.
- His past is shrouded in mystery (= not much is known about it).
- The dark glasses give her an air of mystery.
- She’s a woman of mystery.
Extra Examples- Mystery remains over who will star in the film.
- Modern weather forecasts try to take the mystery out of meteorology.
- The whole incident was shrouded in mystery.
- a place of deep mystery and enchantment
- Her blue eyes had a certain mystery.
- the mystery surrounding her resignation
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- great
- little
- …
- be
- present (somebody with)
- remain
- …
- remain
- deepen
- unfold
- …
- man
- woman
- caller
- …
- mystery about
- mystery as to
- mystery to
- …
- an air of mystery
- an aura of mystery
- something of a mystery
- …
- [countable] a story, a film or a play in which crimes and strange events are only explained at the end
- He is the author of several murder mysteries.
- The film is based on Daphne DuMaurier's mystery novel, ‘Rebecca’.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- great
- little
- …
- be
- present (somebody with)
- remain
- …
- remain
- deepen
- unfold
- …
- man
- woman
- caller
- …
- mystery about
- mystery as to
- mystery to
- …
- an air of mystery
- an aura of mystery
- something of a mystery
- …
- mysteries[plural] secret religious ceremonies; secret knowledge
- (figurative) the teacher who initiated me into the mysteries of mathematics
- [countable] a religious belief that cannot be explained or proved in a scientific way
- the mystery of creation
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘mystic presence, hidden religious symbolism’): from Old French mistere or Latin mysterium, from Greek mustērion; related to mystic.