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enigma

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.
e·nig·ma  (-ngm)
n.
1. One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable.
2. A perplexing speech or text; a riddle.

[Latin aenigma, from Greek ainigma, from ainissesthai, ainig-, to speak in riddles, from ainos, fable.]

enigma
Noun
something or someone that is mysterious or puzzling [Greek ainissesthai to speak in riddles]
enigmatic adj
enigmatically adv
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.enigmaenigma - something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained; "how it got out is a mystery"; "it remains one of nature's secrets"
perplexity - trouble or confusion resulting from complexity
2.enigmaenigma - a difficult problem
problem - a question raised for consideration or solution; "our homework consisted of ten problems to solve"

enigma
Translations
Spanish enigma [ɪˈnɪgmə] nenigma m
French enigma [ɪˈnɪgmə] nénigme f
German enigma [ɪˈnɪgmə] nRätsel nt
Italian enigma [ɪˈnɪgmə] nenigma m

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
She moved to the door, and he followed at her elbow, casting about for a magic word that would make the enigma clear, that would compel the surrender of the gift.
Africa is, at length, about to surrender the secret of her vast solitudes; a modern OEdipus is to give us the key to that enigma which the learned men of sixty centuries have not been able to decipher.
I had perpetually to guard against the wonder of contemplation into which my initiated view betrayed me; to check the irrelevant gaze and discouraged sigh in which I constantly both attacked and renounced the enigma of what such a little gentleman could have done that deserved a penalty.
 
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