different between nebulous vs mysterious

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Middle French nebuleus, from Latin nebul?sus (“full of mist, foggy, cloudy”), from nebula (“mist, vapour, cloud”), from Proto-Indo-European *néb?os (“cloud, vapor, fog, moist, sky”). Cognate with Ancient Greek ????? (néphos, “cloud”), Old High German nebul (“cloud, fog”) (German Nebel), Old English nifol, neowol (“dark, gloomy, obscure, precipitous, prone”). More at neveling, nuel.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /?n?bj?l?s/

Adjective

nebulous (comparative more nebulous, superlative most nebulous)

1. In the form of a cloud or haze; hazy.
2. Vague or ill-defined.
3. Relating to a nebula or nebulae.

Related terms

• nebula
• nebular
• nebulosity

Translations

Anagrams

• unblouse

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