mystic
1 Americanadjective
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involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal.
-
of the nature of or pertaining to mysteries known only to the initiated.
mystic rites.
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of occult character, power, or significance.
a mystic formula.
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of obscure or mysterious character or significance.
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of or relating to mystics or mysticism.
noun
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a person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy.
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a person initiated into religious mysteries.
noun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- antimystic adjective
- mysticity noun
- mysticly adverb
- nonmystic adjective
- semimystic adjective
- unmystic adjective
Etymology
Origin of mystic
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English mystik, from Latin mysticus, from Greek mystikós, from mýst(ēs) “an initiate into the mysteries” (from myeîn “to initiate, teach,” akin to mýein “to shut”; myopia ( def. ) ) + -ikos -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But those readers who have discovered “The Marble Faun,” his shadowy and mystic last novel, know a very different writer.
But a mystic strain ran through Mother’s extended family.
From Literature
Baba is a commonly used term in India to refer to mystics and religious gurus and also to fathers or grandfathers by both Hindus and Muslims.
From BBC
I wondered how dressing up as a mystic would solve a mystery like this one.
From Literature
Myanmar has a rich culture of fortune-telling, and many believe the future can be discerned by mystics.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
