MYSTERY is something unexplained, unknown, or kept secret. From ancient riddles to modern detective stories, mysteries captivate our curiosity and drive our quest for understanding.
Yes. MYSTERY is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 15 points in Scrabble, 14 in Words With Friends and 15 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | M | Y | S | T | E | R | Y | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| Wordfeud | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
MYSTERY encompasses anything that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain. It represents the unknown, the hidden, and the puzzling aspects of life that challenge our comprehension. From unsolved crimes to unexplained phenomena, from religious mysteries to the mysteries of the universe, this word captures humanity's eternal fascination with the unknown. In literature, mystery is a beloved genre featuring detectives, clues, and revelations. The "whodunit" format, popularized by authors like Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle, turns mystery-solving into entertainment. Beyond fiction, real mysteries—from missing persons to archaeological enigmas—continue to perplex investigators and capture public imagination. Types of mysteries: Criminal: Unsolved crimes, missing persons, cold cases Historical: Lost civilizations, unexplained artifacts, vanished expeditions Scientific: Unexplained phenomena, paradoxes, unknown species Religious: Sacred mysteries, miracles, divine revelations Personal: Family secrets, forgotten memories, hidden identities
The word mystery has a rich etymology rooted in ancient religious practices. It derives from Latin mysterium, which came from Greek mysterion (μυστήριον), meaning "secret rite or doctrine." The Greek word comes from mystes meaning "initiated person," from myein meaning "to close" (especially the eyes or lips). Originally, mysteries were secret religious ceremonies in ancient Greece and Rome, where initiates were sworn to silence about sacred rituals. The Eleusinian Mysteries, dedicated to Demeter and Persephone, were among the most famous. Participants literally closed their eyes and lips, keeping the sacred knowledge secret. Mystery entered English through Old French misterie in the 14th century, initially referring to religious truth known only through divine revelation. By the 15th century, it expanded to mean anything hidden or unexplained. The detective story meaning emerged in the 19th century with the rise of mystery fiction.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of MYSTERY.
Hooks: no front hooks; no back hooks.
Words inside MYSTERY: 42 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: STYMYEYRYTREYSTYERSTYRESMYRYESSTEYSTYETERMSTREYTYER. See all words from MYSTERY.