Word of the Day

: December 12, 2021

enigma

noun ih-NIG-muh

What It Means

An enigma is someone or something that is difficult to understand or explain.

// The formation of the craters on the planet is an enigma to astrophysicists.

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enigma in Context

"[Bob Dylan] remains shrouded in mystery—a 21st-century enigma in his line of work. Like always, his evocative and striking songs are crushing and imaginative. But this time, he opens the door a little bit more than usual, letting us see pieces of himself that usually get buried." — Danielle Grady, The Louisville (Kentucky) Eccentric Observer, 27 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Enigma comes from a Greek word that means "to speak in riddles." It applies to things, as well as to people, that puzzle one's mind. Egypt's ancient pyramids and quantum mechanics, for example, might be described as enigmas, as well as physicist Stephen Hawking. In these uses, the word's meaning is a figurative extension of the original "riddle" sense.