- 1[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. It's a complete mystery to me why they chose him.
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- 2[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 program.
- 3[uncountable] the quality of being difficult to understand or to explain, especially when this makes someone or 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.
- 4[countable] a story, a movie, or a play in which crimes and strange events are only explained at the end I enjoy murder mysteries.
- 5mysteries [plural] secret religious ceremonies; secret knowledge (figurative) the teacher who initiated me into the mysteries of mathematics
- 6[countable] a religious belief that cannot be explained or proved in a scientific way the mystery of creation
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