mysterious

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   of an obscure nature

   the new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms

2. 2
   adj

   Of unknown origin.

   He received a mysterious phone call this morning.

3. 3
   adj

   Having unknown qualities.

   Our boss is a mysterious man who hardly ever meets with us.

4. 4
   adj

   Difficult to understand.

   Why he left without saying goodbye is quite mysterious.

5. 5
   adj

   Deliberately evasive or enigmatic.

   Stop being mysterious and just tell me what you want.

6. 6
   adj

   having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence

Etymology

From Middle English *misterius (implied in misteriusly), probably partly from Middle French mystérieux and partly from Latin mystērium + -ous. By surface analysis, mystery + -ous.