Hypertext Webster Gateway: "enigma"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Enigma \E*nig"ma\, n.; pl. {Enigmas}. [L. aenigma, Gr. ?, fr. ?
to speak darkly, fr. ? tale, fable.]
1. A dark, obscure, or inexplicable saying; a riddle; a
statement, the hidden meaning of which is to be discovered
or guessed.
A custom was among the ancients of proposing an
enigma at festivals. --Pope.
2. An action, mode of action, or thing, which cannot be
satisfactorily explained; a puzzle; as, his conduct is an
enigma.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
enigma
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: {mystery}, {secret}, {closed
book}]
2: a difficult problem [syn: {riddle}, {conundrum}, {brain-teaser}]
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