Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Mystery"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Mystery
the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so
designated (Eph. 1:9, 10; 3:8-11; Col. 1:25-27); a truth
undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made
manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51), and other
doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully
understood by finite intelligence (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1
Cor. 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized
by the marriage union (Eph. 5:31, 32; comp. 6:19); the seven
stars and the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); and the woman
clothed in scarlet (17:7), are also in this sense mysteries. The
anti-Christian power working in his day is called by the apostle
(2 Thess. 2:7) the "mystery of iniquity."
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Mystery \Mys"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Mysteries}. [OE. mistere, OF.
mestier, F. m['e]tier, L. ministerium. See {Ministry}.]
1. A trade; a handicraft; hence, any business with which one
is usually occupied.
Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery. --Shak.
And that which is the noblest mystery Brings to
reproach and common infamy. --Spenser.
2. A dramatic representation of a Scriptural subject, often
some event in the life of Christ; a dramatic composition
of this character; as, the Chester Mysteries, consisting
of dramas acted by various craft associations in that city
in the early part of the 14th century.
``Mystery plays,'' so called because acted by
craftsmen. --Skeat.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Mystery \Mys"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Mysteries}. [L. mysterium, Gr. ?,
fr. ? one initiated in mysteries; cf. ? to initiate into the
mysteries, fr. ? to shut the eyes. Cf. {Mute}, a.]
1. A profound secret; something wholly unknown, or something
kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting
curiosity or wonder; something which has not been or can
not be explained; hence, specifically, that which is
beyond human comprehension.
We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. --1 Cor.
ii. 7.
If God should please to reveal unto us this great
mystery of the Trinity, or some other mysteries in
our holy religion, we should not be able to
understand them, unless he would bestow on us some
new faculties of the mind. --Swift.
2. A kind of secret religious celebration, to which none were
admitted except those who had been initiated by certain
preparatory ceremonies; -- usually plural; as, the
Eleusinian mysteries.
3. pl. The consecrated elements in the eucharist.
4. Anything artfully made difficult; an enigma.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
mystery
n 1: something that baffles understanding and cannot be
explained; "how it got out is a mystery"; "it remains
one of nature's secrets" [syn: {enigma}, {secret}, {closed
book}]
2: a story about a crime (usually murder) presented as a novel
or play or movie [syn: {mystery story}, {whodunit}]
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