# enigma
## English
### Alternative forms

* aenigma, ænigma (both archaic)

### Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), being derived itself from the Ancient Greek verbal noun αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “dark saying, speaking in riddles”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɪˈnɪɡmə/, /əˈnɪɡmə/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: -ɪɡmə

### Noun

enigma (countable and uncountable, plural enigmas or enigmata)
* Something or someone puzzling, mysterious or inexplicable.
** 1894, Abram H. Dailey, Mollie Fancher, the Brooklyn Enigma, page 66:I was, and still am, an enigma to myself.
** 1995, Wolfgang Smith, The Quantum Enigma: Finding the Hidden Key, page 92:At the heart of all things there is to be found a certain coincidentia oppositorum; and herein, as I have said, lies the key to our problem: the enigma of indeterminism. The astounding fact is that freedom and necessity can coexist;
** 2007, Ramon Elmerito Gatchalian, A Supernatural Threat, page 9:Tucked inconspicuously away behind the shoal of darkness that hung in those gloomy corners, the silhouetted enigma was ogling him in halcyon silence.
** 2007, Fernando Arrojo Ramos, Enigmas:But as he came to know this work during his last months, he also came to a profound understanding of the many enigmas that create a deeply satisfying life.
** 2009, Vinton McCabe, The Healing Enigma: Demystifying Homeopathy:The enigma that is central to homeopathic medicine has to do with the relationship between dilution and potency.
** 2021, Cynthia Lucy Stephens, The Borges Enigma: Mirrors, Doubles, and Intimate Puzzles, page 6:The 'Real' Borges is difficult to pin down; in a word, he is an enigma.
* A riddle, or a difficult problem.
** 1598, William Shakespeare, Loves Labour's Lost:Some enigma, some riddle: come, thy l'envoy, begin.
** 1879, Henry C. Linstead, The marvellous house; or, The bishop's enigma, page 91:This little story before us is an amplification of that clever enigma, and though essentially a story for children, as its title-page tells us, would beguile many a one much older of a half-hour in the evening.
** 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 202:Watching a coast as it slips by the ship is like thinking about an enigma.
** 2005, Jenny Ledeen, Prophecy in the Christian Era, page 165:Logic sorts the information in an enigma, logic determines that something is odd about this information, and logic draws inferences from an enigma's words; but logic cannot produce ideas.
** 2010, Enrico Rodrigo, The Physics of Stargates, page 323:The other solution to the central enigma of wormhold physics is to simply discard Thales' doctrine.
** 2013, Tilak Nagodawithana, Gerald Reed, Enzymes in Food Processing, page 222:The function of polyphenol oxidase in plants is an enigma because, although it is localized in the plastid, most of the phenolic compounds are in the vacuole, a cellular location not juxtaposed to the plastid.
* Riddles and puzzles, collectively.
** 2000, Harish Trivedi, Richard Allen, Literature and Nation, page 147:From the beginning, readers of The Enigma of Arrival are likely to feel surrounded by enigma and puzzle.
** 2005, Jenny Ledeen, Prophecy in the Christian Era, page 165:These examples show that two processes are tested in enigma - logic and intuition. It is intuition that discovers the specific idea that may be called the “ wisdom ” of a given riddle, whereas logic is confounded by enigma and can only produce inadequate interpretations.
** 2010, Ward Just, Exiles in the Garden, page 162:It was her secret, which she shared with no one except Alec Malone. Her husband would not have understood. Invisible wounds were not in his inventory of useful patents. He had even less interest in enigma.
* Mysteriousness; obscurity; lack of clarity.
** 1995, Ian Ward ·, Law and Literature: Possibilities and Perspectives, page 203:In those halcyon days I believed that the source of enigma was stupidity .
** 1998 ·, Richard L. Hunter, Studies in Heliodorus, page 80:The circumstances under which the band is obtained and the strange story that it tells are wrapped in enigma that challenges the hermeneutic powers of the reader .
** 2010, Keala Jewell, Art of Enigma, page 194:[…] a politics of hybridity that led the brothers to that overarching trait of their art: the accumulation of styles, subjects, materials, textualities, all framed in enigma .
** 2011, Ido Yavetz, From Obscurity to Enigma, page 184:All this will put us in a position to better understand how Heaviside emerged from obscurity only to remain shrouded in enigma.
** 2018, Brigid Rooney, Suburban Space, the Novel and Australian Modernity, page 93:In Johnno, expatriatism is destabilized both explicitly and implicitly, and its correlated 'long remove' governed less by spatial than by temporal distance, by enigma and loss.
* A style of literature characterized by obscurity and hints of transcendental meaning.
** 1971, Paul West, Caliban's filibuster, page 233:But in a sense it is probably close to this book— a series of juxtaposed splinters of meaning, which perhaps once in ten million times will come out as a piece of interpretable prose, with the black pieces intervening, and possibly one could look at this as a one-in-ten million exercise in enigma perhaps meaning something.
** 1974, Peter Dronke, Fabula: Explorations Into the Uses of Myth in Medieval Platonism, page 45:Isidore, on the other hand, while beginning with the traditional classification, proceeds to distinguish between allegory and enigma in a way that reveals a more unusual perception: There is this difference, however, between allegory and enigma, that the force of allegory is twofold, and figuratively indicates a second meaning behind the first, while in enigma it is only the meaning that is dark, and adumbrated by means of images.
** 2006, Eleanor Cook, Enigmas and Riddles in Literature, page 53:About the time of Shakespeare's first plays, two important rhetorical treatises appeared in England, George Puttenham's Art of English Poesie (1589) and the enlarged edition of Henry Peacham's 1577 Garden of Eloquence (1593). Both take an interest in enigma. Puttenham, like Peacham, gives the essentials for the trope of enigma, but with flamboyant flourishes: "allegorie [is] but a duplicitie of meaning or dissimulation under covert and darke intendments. . . [even in the] common proverbe or Adage called Paremia," and so on through all the species, in similar dramatic fashion.
** 2017, Curtis A. Gruenler, Piers Plowman and the Poetics of Enigma:The interpretive effort elicited by enigma approaches an instant of transcendent understanding that has the force of revelation, yet without ever fully or permanently reaching it.
* Alternative form of Enigma
** 2002, David Syrett, The Battle of the Atlantic and Signals Intelligence, page 59:This U-boat consistently used Norddeich or Kootwijk frequencies for her shadowing reports, all of which were in enigma.
** 2011, Dan Ryan, Enigma: The Caldwell Series, page 287:Because of the danger of intercept, transmissions by a submarine are minimized and are coded by enigma.
** 2017, Catherine Coulter, Enigma, page 79:Everybody knows enigma was the code the Germans used back in World War Two. There was a movie about the Brit guy who broke it.
* A protein with three LIM domains (a conserved cysteine- and histidine-rich structure of two adjacent zinc fingers) at the C terminus that regulates protein phosphorylation.
** 2007, Matti Weckström, Pasi Tavi, Cardiac Mechanotransduction, page 84:Members of this LIM protein family expressed in muscle include muscle LIM protein (MLP), enigma, actinin-associated LIM protein (ALP), cypher, four and a half LIM-only protein FHL/SLIM, and heart LIM protein (HLP).
** 2007, Shiro Iuchi, Natalie Kuldell, Zinc Finger Proteins: From Atomic Contact to Cellular Function, page 101:Yeast two-hybrid screening revealed that enigma binds to the insulin receptor (InsR) internalization motif.
** 2012, Anthony J. Pawson, Protein Modules in Signal Transduction, page 86:Enigma is a predominantly cytoplasmic protein that contains one PDZ domain at its N terminus and three LIM domains at its C terminus.
* The Talaud kingfisher, Todiramphus enigma.
** 1997, Jon Riley, Biological Surveys and Conservation Priorities on the Sangihe and Talaud Islands, Indonesia:As noted by Fry (1980), if both forms were shown to be resident and breeding on Talaud, enigma must be accorded specific status.
** 1998, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club - Volumes 118-119, page 116:No conclusive proof of breeding by enigma was obtained, but during late September and October 1995, birds were paired and holding territory in central Karakelang.
** 2001, Ernst Mayr, Jared Diamond, The Birds of Northern Melanesia, page 386:The Talaud population enigma may be a race of H. chloris ( Eck 1978 ) or a distinct species ( White & Bruce 1986 ).
* Any of species of Oedaleonotus enigma of grasshoppers.
** 1972, United States. Forest Service, Forest Insect Conditions in the United States, page 13:The principal species involved were the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fab.); the Packard grasshopper, Melanoplus packardii Scudd.; the clearwinged grasshopper, Camnula pellucida (Scudd.); and the Enigma Oedaleonotus enigma Scudd.
* Any of species of Heliothis enigma of rare moths.
** 1970, Mississippi State University, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Technical Bulletin, numbers 179-191, page 9:Unlike any other species except virescens , the base of the male valve in enigma is slightly expanded and is entirely covered by hair insertions; unlike virescens, the base of the valve is not expanded into a large corema.

#### Derived terms

* enigma canon
* Enigma machine
* enigmatic
* enigmatology
* riddle wrapped in an enigma

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

#### References

* ↑ “enigma” listed by Dictionary.com Unabridged (v1·1)

### Anagrams

* gamine, imagen, in-game

## Asturian
### Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

### Noun

enigma m (plural enigmes)
* enigma

#### Related terms

* enigmáticu

## Basque
### Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish enigma, from Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

### Noun

enigma inan
* enigma

## Catalan
### Etymology

Borrowed from Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: (Central, Balearic) [əˈniɡ.mə]
* IPA: (Valencia) [eˈniɡ.ma]

### Noun

enigma m (plural enigmes)
* enigma

#### Derived terms

* enigmàtic

### Further reading

* “enigma” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

## Esperanto
### Etymology

enigmo +‎ -a

### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Adjective

enigma (accusative singular enigman, plural enigmaj, accusative plural enigmajn)
* enigmatic

## Finnish
### Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin aenigma, from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈeniɡmɑ/, [ˈe̞niɡmɑ̝]
* Rhymes: -eniɡmɑ
* Hyphenation: enig‧ma

### Noun

enigma
* enigma

#### Declension

Possessive forms of enigma (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation) :
first-person singular possessor
singular
plural
nominative
enigmani
enigmani
accusative
nom.
enigmani
enigmani
gen.
enigmani
genitive
enigmani
enigmojeni enigmaini $^{rare}$
partitive
enigmaani
enigmojani
inessive
enigmassani
enigmoissani
elative
enigmastani
enigmoistani
illative
enigmaani
enigmoihini
adessive
enigmallani
enigmoillani
ablative
enigmaltani
enigmoiltani
allative
enigmalleni
enigmoilleni
essive
enigmanani
enigmoinani
translative
enigmakseni
enigmoikseni
abessive
enigmattani
enigmoittani
instructive
comitative
—enigmoineni
second-person singular possessor
singular
plural
nominative
enigmasi
enigmasi
accusative
nom.
enigmasi
enigmasi
gen.
enigmasi
genitive
enigmasi
enigmojesi enigmaisi $^{rare}$
partitive
enigmaasi
enigmojasi
inessive
enigmassasi
enigmoissasi
elative
enigmastasi
enigmoistasi
illative
enigmaasi
enigmoihisi
adessive
enigmallasi
enigmoillasi
ablative
enigmaltasi
enigmoiltasi
allative
enigmallesi
enigmoillesi
essive
enigmanasi
enigmoinasi
translative
enigmaksesi
enigmoiksesi
abessive
enigmattasi
enigmoittasi
instructive
comitative
—enigmoinesi
first-person plural possessor
singular
plural
nominative
enigmamme
enigmamme
accusative
nom.
enigmamme
enigmamme
gen.
enigmamme
genitive
enigmamme
enigmojemme enigmaimme $^{rare}$
partitive
enigmaamme
enigmojamme
inessive
enigmassamme
enigmoissamme
elative
enigmastamme
enigmoistamme
illative
enigmaamme
enigmoihimme
adessive
enigmallamme
enigmoillamme
ablative
enigmaltamme
enigmoiltamme
allative
enigmallemme
enigmoillemme
essive
enigmanamme
enigmoinamme
translative
enigmaksemme
enigmoiksemme
abessive
enigmattamme
enigmoittamme
instructive
comitative
—enigmoinemme
second-person plural possessor
singular
plural
nominative
enigmanne
enigmanne
accusative
nom.
enigmanne
enigmanne
gen.
enigmanne
genitive
enigmanne
enigmojenne enigmainne $^{rare}$
partitive
enigmaanne
enigmojanne
inessive
enigmassanne
enigmoissanne
elative
enigmastanne
enigmoistanne
illative
enigmaanne
enigmoihinne
adessive
enigmallanne
enigmoillanne
ablative
enigmaltanne
enigmoiltanne
allative
enigmallenne
enigmoillenne
essive
enigmananne
enigmoinanne
translative
enigmaksenne
enigmoiksenne
abessive
enigmattanne
enigmoittanne
instructive
comitative
—enigmoinenne
third-person possessor
singular
plural
nominative
enigmansa
enigmansa
accusative
nom.
enigmansa
enigmansa
gen.
enigmansa
genitive
enigmansa
enigmojensa enigmainsa $^{rare}$
partitive
enigmaansa
enigmojaan enigmojansa
inessive
enigmassaan enigmassansa
enigmoissaan enigmoissansa
elative
enigmastaan enigmastansa
enigmoistaan enigmoistansa
illative
enigmaansa
enigmoihinsa
adessive
enigmallaan enigmallansa
enigmoillaan enigmoillansa
ablative
enigmaltaan enigmaltansa
enigmoiltaan enigmoiltansa
allative
enigmalleen enigmallensa
enigmoilleen enigmoillensa
essive
enigmanaan enigmanansa
enigmoinaan enigmoinansa
translative
enigmakseen enigmaksensa
enigmoikseen enigmoiksensa
abessive
enigmattaan enigmattansa
enigmoittaan enigmoittansa
instructive
comitative
—enigmoineen enigmoinensa :

## Galician
### Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

### Noun

enigma m (plural enigmas)
* enigma

#### Related terms

* enigmático

## Italian
### Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ænigma, from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /eˈniɡ.ma/
* Rhymes: -iɡma
* Hyphenation: e‧nìg‧ma

### Noun

enigma m (plural enigmi)
* enigma, riddle, conundrum
    Synonyms: giallo, mistero

#### Related terms

* enigmatico
* enigmista
* enigmistica
* enigmistico

### References

* ↑ Pianigiani, Ottorino (1907) “enigma”, in Vocabolario etimologico della lingua italiana (in Italian), Rome: Albrighi & Segati

### Anagrams

* Nimega, gemina, igname

## Latin
### Pronunciation

* (Classical Latin) IPA: /eːˈniɡ.ma/, [eːˈnɪɡmä]
* (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA: /eˈniɡ.ma/, [eˈniɡmä]

### Noun

ēnigma n (genitive ēnigmatis); third declension
* Alternative form of aenigma

#### Declension

Third-declension noun (neuter, imparisyllabic non-i-stem).

## Polish
### Etymology

Borrowed from French énigme.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɛˈɲiɡ.ma/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -iɡma
* Syllabification: e‧nig‧ma

### Noun

enigma f
* (literary) enigma (something puzzling, mysterious or inexplicable)
    Synonyms: tajemnica, zagadka

#### Related terms

* enigmatyczny
* enigmatycznie
* enigm
* Enigma
* enigmat
* enigmatyczność

### Further reading

* enigma in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
* enigma in Polish dictionaries at PWN

## Portuguese
### Etymology

Borrowed from Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /e.ni.ɡiˈũ.mɐ/ [e.ni.ɡɪˈũ.mɐ], /e.niˈɡjũ.mɐ/
* (Brazil) IPA: /e.ni.ɡiˈũ.mɐ/ [e.ni.ɡɪˈũ.mɐ], /e.niˈɡjũ.mɐ/
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /e.ni.ɡiˈu.ma/ [e.ni.ɡɪˈu.ma], /e.niˈɡju.ma/
* (Portugal) IPA: /i.niˈɡiw.mɐ/ [i.niˈɣiw.mɐ]
* Hyphenation: e‧nig‧ma

### Noun

enigma m (plural enigmas)
* enigma

#### Related terms

* enigmático

## Romanian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [eˈniɡma]

### Noun

enigma f
* definite nominative/accusative singular of enigmă

## Spanish
### Etymology

From Latin aenigma (“riddle”), from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “dark saying, riddle”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /eˈniɡma/ [eˈniɣ̞.ma]
* Rhymes: -iɡma
* Syllabification: e‧nig‧ma

### Noun

enigma m (plural enigmas)
* enigma, conundrum (something that is puzzling)
* riddle, conundrum
    Synonym: acertijo

#### Related terms

* enigmáticamente
* enigmático

### Further reading

* “enigma”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

### Anagrams

* gemina