Word of the Day: ENIGMA

Pronunciation: UK /ɪˈnɪɡ.mə/
US /əˈnɪɡ.mə/

Meaning

An enigma is a person, thing or situation that is mysterious, puzzling or difficult to understand. It can also refer to a riddle or a statement with a hidden meaning. The word is often used when something leaves people searching for answers.

Examples for daily usage

  • Despite knowing him for years, she still found him an enigma.
  • The sudden disappearance remains an enigma for investigators.
  • His unusual painting was an enigma to everyone who saw it.

Origin and history

The word enigma entered English in the 16th century through the Latin ‘aenigma’, which came from the Greek ainigma, meaning a riddle or obscure saying. The Greek word is connected to ‘ainissesthai’, meaning to speak obscurely or in riddles. Its deeper origin is uncertain.

Initially, enigma referred to a statement that concealed its meaning through puzzling language. By around 1600, it had developed the broader meaning of anything difficult to explain or understand.

Also Read: Word of the Day, October 10: ‘Dormant’

Enigmas have long fascinated writers, filmmakers and audiences because they leave room for interpretation. In mystery novels, an enigma might be a puzzling crime or an unexplained disappearance. In a character-driven story, it might be a person whose motives remain unclear.

The word also appears in science and history. One famous example is the Enigma machine, an encryption device used by Nazi Germany during the Second World War to encode military communications. Allied codebreakers worked to decipher its messages.

In everyday conversation, calling someone an enigma usually means that their personality, thoughts or actions are difficult to read.

Interesting facts

Enigmatic is the adjective form of the word.

Enigmatically is the adverb, used to describe an action performed in a mysterious or puzzling way.

The plural is usually enigmas. The less common form enigmata also exists.

Examples from literature

  • “I think I would rather feel that painting is beautiful than have to read it as an enigma.”— Middlemarch, George Eliot
  • “it scarcely gave a thought to the mere difficulty of developing their import.”— The Short Story, Edgar Allan Poe

Synonyms

  • Mystery
  • Puzzle
  • Riddle
  • Conundrum
  • Mystery figure
  • Question mark

Antonyms

  • Explanation
  • Clarity
  • Certainty
  • Solution
  • Open book

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