Enigma
/ɪˈnɪɡmə/
nounC1
Definition
An enigma is a person, thing, or situation that is difficult to understand or explain because it is strange or mysterious. People often use this word when something is puzzling or unclear, and it makes others curious or confused.
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See It in Action
A mysterious person or thing
- •The old man was an enigma; no one knew where he came from.
- •Her behavior was an enigma to all her friends.
- •The painting remains an enigma to art experts.
A puzzling situation or problem
- •The cause of the strange noise was an enigma for the scientists.
- •The disappearance of the ship is still an enigma.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "enigma" like "mystery" (A2 word), but more serious and deep—something that puzzles many people for a long time
- ✓Picture a locked box with no key, hiding something unknown inside that you want to discover
- ✓It's the feeling when you meet someone who never tells their true thoughts and seems very secretive
- ✓Sounds like "in-NIG-ma" → imagine a ninja (secret, hard to see) hiding a secret message that nobody can read
- ✓Think of Sherlock Holmes stories where strange cases are called enigmas because they are hard to solve
- ✓NOT like "riddle" (a question or puzzle you can solve quickly), "enigma" is often bigger and more complex
- ✓NOT like "secret" (something hidden on purpose), "enigma" can be unclear even without intention
- ✓NOT like "confusing" (hard to understand but maybe by mistake), "enigma" is mysterious and deep, not just unclear
Try Other Words
- •Mystery: something unknown or not understood (Use when the unknown is less serious or less deep)
- •Puzzle: a problem to solve (Use when focusing on solving or figuring out)
- •Riddle: a question or statement needing a clever answer (Use when it is a short, fun problem)
- •Secret: something kept hidden on purpose (Use when the unknown is hidden by choice)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "enigma" comes from Greek "ainigma," meaning "riddle" or "to speak in riddles"
- •Etymology: From Greek, used in ancient times for puzzles or mysterious sayings
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 16th century to mean a puzzling or mysterious thing
- •Modern usage: Used for people, things, or situations that are difficult to understand or explain, often with a sense of mystery or fascination
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of people or things in your life feel like an enigma to you? Why?
•How does calling something an enigma change the way you think about it compared to just calling it confusing?
Fill in the blanks
1.The old man was an enigma because he never ___ his past or feelings.
2.Scientists found the strange signals to be an enigma, and they could not ___ them.
3.Unlike a simple puzzle, an enigma is often ___ to solve or explain.
4.The detective worked hard to ___ the enigma behind the missing jewels.
5.People often describe her smile as an enigma because it hides her true ___.
6.The word "enigma" usually pairs with ___ words like "mysterious" or "unsolved."
7.When something is called an enigma, we can infer that it is not just unknown but also ___ to understand.