Philosophy & ThoughtGreek → English
Enigma
A puzzling or inexplicable person or thing.
The Greek roots
αἴνιγμα
aínigma
riddle
Literally: “a riddle”
Follow a root:αἴνιγμα1 word
The story of the word
From ainíssesthai, 'to speak in riddles' — the word kept its air of mystery intact.
The same roots elsewhere
Other languages reached for exactly the same Greek pieces.
In a sentence
His motives remained an enigma to everyone.