Enigma

Pronunciation: /əˈnɪɡmə/

Definitions of enigma

noun a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

Example Sentences

A1 The mystery of the missing key was an enigma for the detective.

A2 The ancient artifact was an enigma that puzzled archaeologists for years.

B1 The enigma of the Bermuda Triangle continues to baffle scientists and researchers.

B2 The true identity of the mysterious masked vigilante remained an enigma to the public.

C1 The enigma of human consciousness is a topic that philosophers have debated for centuries.

C2 The enigma surrounding the origins of the universe is one of the biggest questions in astrophysics.

Examples of enigma in a Sentence

formal The origins of the ancient artifact remain an enigma to historians.

informal I can't figure out how she always knows what we're thinking, she's such an enigma.

slang That guy is a total enigma, you never know what he's going to do next.

figurative Her personality is like an enigma wrapped in a mystery, you never know what to expect.

Grammatical Forms of enigma

• past tense: enigmated
• plural: enigmas
• comparative: more enigmatic
• superlative: most enigmatic
• present tense: enigmas
• future tense: will enigmatize
• perfect tense: have enigmated
• continuous tense: is enigmatizing
• singular: enigma
• positive degree: enigmatic
• infinitive: to enigmatize
• gerund: enigmatizing
• participle: enigmatized

Origin and Evolution of enigma

First Known Use: 1500 year

Language of Origin: Latin and Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'enigma' originated from the Latin word 'aenigma', which in turn came from the Greek word 'ainigma' meaning 'riddle' or 'dark saying'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'enigma' has evolved to refer to something mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand, beyond just a simple riddle or puzzle.