Where does “mystical” come from?
Mystical comes from English mystic, from Latin mysticus, from Ancient Greek μυστικός, derived from μύστης (one initiated into mysteries), from μυέω (to initiate), from μύω (to close the eyes or mouth), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European mewH-.
mystical (English): Relating to mystics or mysticism; Having a...
Definitions
- Relating to mystics or mysticism; Having a...
Ancestry of “mystical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mystic | Of, or relating to mystics, mysticism or occult... |
| 2 | Old French | mistique | mysterious; mystical |
| 3 | Latin | mysticus | Of or belonging to secret rites or mysteries;... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | μυστικός | secret, mystic |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μύστης | one who has been initiated, initiate |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μυέω | I initiate |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -έω | Used to form verbs from nouns, adjectives and... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -éyeti | Forms causative imperfective verbs from roots;... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -yeti | Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots |