a. 古代的秘密宗教仪式

Mystery \Mys"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Mysteries}. [OE. mistere, OF.
mestier, F. m['e]tier, L. ministerium. See {Ministry}.]
1. A trade; a handicraft; hence, any business with which one
is usually occupied.

Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery. --Shak.

And that which is the noblest mystery
Brings to reproach and common infamy. --Spenser.

2. A dramatic representation of a Scriptural subject, often
some event in the life of Christ; a dramatic composition
of this character; as, the Chester Mysteries, consisting
of dramas acted by various craft associations in that city
in the early part of the 14th century.

``Mystery plays,'' so called because acted by
craftsmen. --Skeat.


Mystery \Mys"ter*y\ (m[i^]s"t[~e]r*[y^]), n.; pl. {Mysteries}
(m[i^]s"t[~e]r*[i^]z). [L. mysterium, Gr. mysth`rion, fr.
my`sths one initiated in mysteries; cf. myei^n to initiate
into the mysteries, fr. my`ein to shut the eyes. Cf. {Mute},
a.]
1. A profound secret; something wholly unknown, or something
kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting
curiosity or wonder; something which has not been or can
not be explained; hence, specifically, that which is
beyond human comprehension.

We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. --1 Cor.
ii. 7.

If God should please to reveal unto us this great
mystery of the Trinity, or some other mysteries in
our holy religion, we should not be able to
understand them, unless he would bestow on us some
new faculties of the mind. --Swift.

2. A kind of secret religious celebration, to which none were
admitted except those who had been initiated by certain
preparatory ceremonies; -- usually plural; as, the
Eleusinian mysteries.

3. pl. The consecrated elements in the eucharist.

4. Anything artfully made difficult; an enigma.