enigma
noun
1 enigma
Something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained.
synonyms: closed book, mystery, secret.
Roget 461:
inquiry;
request
etc.
765;
search,
research,
quest,
pursuit
etc.
622.
examination,
review,
scrutiny,
investigation,
indagation†;
perquisition†,
perscrutation†,
pervestigation†;
inquest,
inquisition;
exploration;
exploitation,
ventilation.
sifting;
calculation,
analysis,
dissection,
resolution,
induction;
Baconian method†.
strict inquiry,
close inquiry,
searching inquiry,
exhaustive inquiry;
narrow search,
strict search;
study
etc.
(consideration)
451.
scire facias [Lat.],
ad referendum;
trial.
questioning
etc.
v.;
interrogation,
interrogatory;
interpellation;
challenge,
examination,
cross-examination,
catechism;
feeler,
Socratic method,
zetetic philosophy†;
leading question;
discussion
etc.
(reasoning)
476.
reconnoitering,
reconnaissance;
prying
etc.
v.;
espionage,
espionnage [Fr.];
domiciliary visit,
peep behind the curtain;
lantern of Diogenes.
question,
query,
problem,
desideratum,
point to be solved,
porism†;
subject of inquiry,
field of inquiry,
subject of controversy;
point in dispute,
matter in dispute;
moot point;
issue,
question at issue;
bone of contention
etc.
(discord)
713;
plain question,
fair question,
open question;
enigma
etc.
(secret)
533;
knotty point
etc.
(difficulty)
704;
quodlibet;
threshold of an inquiry.
[person who questions]
inquirer,
investigator,
inquisitor,
inspector,
querist†,
examiner,
catechist;
scrutator scrutineer scrutinizer†;
analyst;
quidnunc [Lat.]
etc.
(curiosity)
455.
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Dutch: geheim, mysterie, verborgenheid
Polish: niewiadoma, enigma, pytajnik, znak zapytania, zagadka, tajemnica, misterium
2 enigma
A difficult problem.
synonyms: brain-teaser, conundrum, riddle.
Roget 533:
secret;
dead secret,
profound secret;
arcanum†,
mystery;
latency
etc.
526;
Asian mystery†;
sealed book,
secrets of the prison house;
le desous des cartes [Fr.].
enigma,
riddle,
puzzle,
nut to crack,
conundrum,
charade,
rebus,
logogriph†;
monogram,
anagram;
Sphinx;
crux criticorum [Lat.].
maze,
labyrinth,
Hyrcynian wood;
intricacy,
meander.
problem
etc.
(question)
461;
paradox
etc.
(difficulty)
704;
unintelligibility
etc.
519;
terra incognita
etc.
(ignorance)
491.
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Roget 519:
unintelligibility;
incomprehensibility,
imperspicuity†;
inconceivableness,
vagueness
etc.
adj.;
obscurity;
ambiguity
etc.
520;
doubtful meaning;
uncertainty
etc.
475;
perplexity
etc.
(confusion)
59;
spinosity†;
obscurum per obscurius [Lat.];
mystification
etc.
(concealment)
528;
latency
etc.
526;
transcendentalism.
paradox,
oxymoron;
riddle,
enigma,
puzzle
etc.
(secret)
533;
diagnus vindice nodus [Lat.];
sealed book;
steganography†,
freemasonry.
pons asinorum [Lat.],
asses' bridge;
high Dutch,
Greek,
Hebrew;
jargon
etc.
(unmeaning)
517.
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Dutch: woordraadsel, hersenbreker, raadselachtige zaak, enigma, raadsel
Polish: enigmat
Moby thesaurus: Chinese puzzle, Gordian knot, arcanum, baffle, bafflement, baffling problem, bewilderment, bother, brain twister, cabala, classified information, confidence, confidential communication, confoundment, confusion, conundrum, crossword puzzle, crux, dark horse, dilemma, discomposure, disconcert, disconcertedness, disconcertion, disconcertment, disturbance, embarrassment, enigmatic question, esoterica, fix, floorer, frontier, frontiers of knowledge, guarded secret, hermetics, jam, jigsaw puzzle, knot, knotty point, matter of ignorance, mind-boggler, mystery, mystery of mysteries, mystification, n, node, nodus, nonplus, nut to crack, oxymoron, paradox, perplexed question, perplexity, personal matter, perturbation, pickle, plight, pons asinorum, poser, pother, predicament, private matter, privileged communication, privity, problem, profound secret, puzzle, puzzlement, puzzler, quandary, question, question mark, restricted information, riddle, scrape, sealed book, secret, sixty-four dollar question, stew, sticker, stumper, teaser, terra incognita, the incalculable, the occult, the strange, the unfamiliar, the unknowable, the unknown, tough proposition, unassuredness, unexplored ground, unexplored territory, unknown quantity, upset, vexed question, why, x, z ... show more.
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