enigma

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) Something or someone puzzling, mysterious or inexplicable.
2. (countable, uncountable) A riddle, or a difficult problem.
3. (countable, uncountable) Riddles and puzzles, collectively.
4. (countable, uncountable) Mysteriousness; obscurity; a lack of clarity.
5. (countable, uncountable) A style of literature characterized by obscurity and hints of transcendental meaning.
6. (alt-of, countable, uncountable) Alternative letter-case form of Enigma.
7. (countable, uncountable) A protein with three LIM domains (a conserved cysteine- and histidine-rich structure of two adjacent zinc fingers) at the C terminus that regulates protein phosphorylation.
8. (countable, uncountable) The Talaud kingfisher, Todiramphus enigma.
9. (countable, uncountable) Any of species of Oedaleonotus enigma of grasshoppers.
10. (countable, uncountable) Any of species of Heliothis enigma of rare moths.

Synonyms

riddle

puzzle

mystery

conundrum

closed book

📕

problem

brain-teaser

jigsaw puzzle

🧩

quiz

puzzler

secret

㊙️

profound secret

inconceivable

paradox

poser

question

❓

quibble

tickler

why

brain teaser

Translations

énigme

Rätsel

enigma

enigma

enigma

αίνιγμα

devinette

enigma

mystère

raadsel

puzzle

🧩

puzzel

aenigma

griphus

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪˈnɪɡmə/

Etymology

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