Mysterian
/mɪˈstɪəriən/noun
A person who believes that certain problems, especially consciousness, are fundamentally beyond human understanding.
Did you know?Modern mysterianism echoes the ancient Greek mystery tradition, whose initiates were bound to silence about sacred revelations.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mu-
“An imitative root associated with closing the lips, murmuring, or inarticulate sound”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mýein
“To close the eyes or lips”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mystḗrion
“A secret rite or sacred mystery, especially one reserved for initiates”
Late Antiquity
Latin
mysterium
“A secret or divine mystery; the source of the English word mystery”
Middle English
English
mysterie
“A secret, concealed truth, or religious mystery”
20th Century
English
mysterian
“A person associated with mysterianism, the view that some questions are inherently unknowable”
Explore more surprising origins