different between mysterious vs mystify

English

Etymology

From Middle French mystérieux.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??ri?s
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /m??st???i.?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /m??st??i.?s/

Adjective

mysterious (comparative more mysterious, superlative most mysterious)

1. Of unknown origin.

   Synonym: untraceable

2. Having unknown qualities.

   Synonyms: esoteric, uncertain, undefined; see also Thesaurus:mysterious

   Hyponyms: anonymous, faceless, unexplored, unnamed, long-mysterious
3. Difficult to understand.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:incomprehensible

4. Deliberately evasive or enigmatic.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:covert

Derived terms

• mysteriously
• mysteriousness

Related terms

• mystery

Translations

English

Etymology

From French mystifier, from Ancient Greek ???????? (mustikós, “secret, mystic”) + Latin -ficare.

Verb

mystify (third-person singular simple present mystifies, present participle mystifying, simple past and past participle mystified)

1. (transitive) To thoroughly confuse, befuddle, or bewilder.

Related terms

• mysterious
• mystery
• mystic
• mystical
• mysticism
• mystique

Translations

Further reading

• mystify in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• mystify in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• mystify at OneLook Dictionary Search