Enigma Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：mystery (enigma)

enigma 🔊

/ɪˈnɪɡmə/

A person, thing, or situation that is very mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand and explain.

mystery 🔊

➕

/ˈmɪstəri/

A person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or hard to understand.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'ainigma' (riddle), from 'ainos' (story) + suffix -ma.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'enigma' as 'E' (electronic) + 'nigma' (puzzle) -> an unsolvable electronic puzzle.

📖 Example

The sudden disappearance of the ancient civilization remains an enigma to modern historians. 🔊 The sudden disappearance of the ancient civilization remains a mystery to modern historians.

🔗 Collocations

an unsolved enigma – a mystery that has not been solved

a complete enigma – something completely puzzling

the enigma of something – the mystery of something

🔄 Synonyms

mystery (n.) – something that is difficult or impossible to understand

puzzle (n.) – a person or thing that is difficult to understand

riddle (n.) – a mysterious person or thing

🚫 Antonyms

open book (n.) – something that is easy to understand

clarity (n.) – the quality of being easy to see or understand

🌱 Derivatives

enigmatic (adj.) – mysterious and difficult to understand

enigmatically (adv.) – in a mysterious way

📖 Cultural Story

Enigma entered English via Latin 'aenigma', from Greek 'ainigma' meaning 'riddle'. In ancient Greece, riddles (ainigmata) were used in poetry and oracles. Today, it describes anything perplexing.