Mystery Play

B2 8+

Pronunciation: /ˈmɪstəri pleɪ/

Definitions of mystery play

noun a type of medieval drama that focused on religious themes and often performed by guilds or churches

Example Sentences

A1 A mystery play is a type of performance that involves solving a puzzle or crime.

A2 In some cultures, mystery plays are performed during religious festivals to teach moral lessons.

B1 The mystery play was a popular form of entertainment in medieval Europe, often depicting biblical stories.

B2 During the Renaissance, mystery plays evolved into more elaborate theatrical productions with complex plots and special effects.

C1 The mystery play genre experienced a revival in the 20th century, with modern adaptations exploring themes of existentialism and psychological depth.

C2 Scholars continue to debate the origins and significance of mystery plays in the context of medieval drama and religious practices.

Examples of mystery play in a Sentence

formal The mystery play is a form of medieval drama that focuses on biblical stories.

informal Have you ever seen a mystery play before? It's like a play about biblical stories.

slang Let's check out that mystery play happening downtown, it's supposed to be really cool.

figurative Life is like a mystery play, you never know what's going to happen next.

Grammatical Forms of mystery play

past tense

performed

plural

mystery plays

comparative

more mysterious

superlative

most mysterious

present tense

performs

future tense

will perform

perfect tense

has performed

continuous tense

is performing

singular

mystery play

positive degree

mysterious

infinitive

to perform

gerund

performing

participle

performed

Origin and Evolution of mystery play

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The term 'mystery play' originated in medieval Europe as a form of religious drama depicting biblical stories.
Evolution of the word: Originally, mystery plays were performed by guilds in the vernacular language to educate the illiterate population about religious stories. Over time, they evolved to include more elaborate staging and costumes, and began to incorporate elements of comedy and satire. Eventually, mystery plays fell out of favor as the Protestant Reformation led to a decline in religious drama.