different between labyrinth vs enigma

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French labyrinthe or Latin labyrinthus, from Ancient Greek ?????????? (labúrinthos, “a maze”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?læb.?.??n?/, /?læb.??n?/

Noun

labyrinth (plural labyrinths)

1. (Greek mythology) a maze-like structure built by Daedalus in Knossos, containing the Minotaur
   1. a complicated irregular network of passages or paths, especially underground or covered, in which it is difficult to find one's way

      Synonym: maze

   2. a maze (as in a garden) formed by paths separated by high hedges
   3. anything complicated and confusing in structure, arrangement, or character
2. (anatomy) a tortuous anatomical structure:
   1. (anatomy) a complex structure in the inner ear which contains the organs of hearing and balance. It consists of bony cavities (the bony labyrinth) filled with fluid and lined with sensitive membranes (the membranous labyrinth)
   2. (zoology) an accessory respiratory organ of certain fish
3. any of various satyrine butterflies of the genus Neope

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

labyrinth (third-person singular simple present labyrinths, present participle labyrinthing, simple past and past participle labyrinthed)

1. to enclose in a labyrinth, or as though in a labyrinth
2. to arrange in the form of a labyrinth
3. to twist and wind, following a labyrinthine path
4. to render lost and confused, as if in a labyrinth

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “labyrinth”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN
• “labyrinth”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
• “labyrinth”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).

English

Alternative forms

• ænigma (chiefly archaic)

Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), being derived itself from the Ancient Greek verbal noun ??????? (aínigma, “dark saying, speaking in riddles”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??n??m?/, /??n??m?/

Noun

enigma (plural enigmas or enigmata)

1. Something or someone puzzling, mysterious or inexplicable.
2. A riddle, or a difficult problem.

Related terms

• a riddle wrapped up in an enigma
• Enigma machine
• enigmatic

Translations

References

Anagrams

• gamine, imagen, in-game

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

Noun

enigma m (plural enigmes)

1. enigma

Related terms

• enigmáticu

Basque

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish enigma, from Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

Noun

enigma inan

1. enigma

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /??ni?.m?/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /e?ni?.ma/

Noun

enigma m (plural enigmes)

1. enigma

Derived terms

• enigmàtic

Further reading

• “enigma” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Esperanto

Etymology

enigmo +? -a

Adjective

enigma (accusative singular enigman, plural enigmaj, accusative plural enigmajn)

1. enigmatic

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?eni?m?/, [?e?ni?m?]
• Rhymes: -eni?m?
• Syllabification: e?nig?ma

Noun

enigma

1. enigma

Declension

Galician

Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

Noun

enigma m (plural enigmas)

1. enigma

Related terms

• enigmático

Italian

Etymology

From Latin ænigma, from Ancient Greek ??????? (aínigma).

Noun

enigma m (plural enigmi)

1. enigma, riddle, conundrum

   Synonyms: giallo, mistero

Related terms

• enigmatico
• enigmista
• enigmistica
• enigmistico

References

Anagrams

• gemina, igname

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /e??ni?.ma/, [e??n??mä]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /e?ni?.ma/, [??ni?m?]

Noun

?nigma n (genitive ?nigmatis); third declension

1. Alternative form of aenigma

Declension

Third-declension noun (neuter, imparisyllabic non-i-stem).

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

Noun

enigma m (plural enigmas)

1. enigma

Related terms

• enigmático

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [e?ni?ma]

Noun

enigma f

1. definite nominative/accusative singular of enigm?

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e?ni?ma/, [e?ni??.ma]

Noun

enigma m (plural enigmas)

1. enigma, conundrum (something that is puzzling)
2. riddle, conundrum

Related terms

• enigmático
• enigmáticamente

Further reading

• “enigma” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.

Anagrams

• gemina