m-y-s-t-e-r-y
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.
15
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
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:
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.
•The Voynich Manuscript remains one of history's greatest mysteries—unreadable after 600 years
•Agatha Christie is the best-selling mystery writer—her books have sold over 2 billion copies
•The word "clue" originally meant a ball of thread—from the myth of Theseus in the labyrinth
•MYSTERY contains two Y's worth 4 points each—excellent for high-scoring plays
"The detective unraveled the mystery that had baffled police for decades."
"Life's greatest mystery is how consciousness arises from mere matter."
"She loved reading mystery novels, trying to solve the case before the final chapter."
Words with similar meaning
Enigma
Puzzling situation
Puzzle
Confusing problem
Riddle
Cryptic question
Secret
Hidden knowledge
Words with opposite meaning
Solution
Answer found
Clarity
Clear understanding
Certainty
Sure knowledge
Explanation
Clear reason
Plural Form
mysteries
Life holds many mysteries.
Adjective Form
mysterious
A mysterious stranger appeared.
Adverb Form
mysteriously
He mysteriously vanished.
Related Terms
Crime fiction genre
Detective story book
Find the answer
Shorter words within MYSTERY:
The 1920s-1930s marked mystery fiction's Golden Age. Agatha Christie created Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, while Dorothy L. Sayers crafted Lord Peter Wimsey. These authors established mystery conventions: the closed circle of suspects, fair play with clues, and the dramatic denouement. Their influence extends to modern crime dramas, podcasts, and true crime obsessions.
Unsolved mysteries captivate global audiences. The Bermuda Triangle, Amelia Earhart's disappearance, the identity of Jack the Ripper—these mysteries spawn documentaries, theories, and investigations. Archaeological mysteries like Stonehenge's purpose or the Nazca Lines' meaning continue to puzzle experts. Each generation inherits these mysteries while creating new ones in our digital age.
Humans are hardwired to solve mysteries. Our pattern-seeking brains crave resolution and understanding. Mystery engages our problem-solving abilities, releases dopamine when we find clues, and satisfies our need for narrative closure. This explains why mystery games, escape rooms, and puzzle-solving remain eternally popular across cultures.
Mystery vs. Mystic
Unknown thing vs. spiritual person
Mystery vs. Misery
Unknown vs. suffering
Mysterious vs. Mystical
Unknown vs. supernatural
ENIGMA
Puzzling mystery
PUZZLE
Confusing problem
RIDDLE
Cryptic question
SECRET
Hidden information
CLUE
Helpful hint
MYSTIC
Spiritual seeker
DETECTIVE
Mystery solver
SUSPENSE
Tense uncertainty
UNKNOWN
Not known
CRYPTIC
Hidden meaning
Other valuable mystery-related words in Scrabble
Total base points: 15 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 1 | Consonants: 6
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like MYSTERY