English
enigma
Enigma comes from Latin aenigma ‘riddle’, and goes back to Ancient Greek αἶνος ‘fable’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαἶνος‘fable’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἴνιγμαaínigma‘riddle’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaenigma‘riddle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1598enigma
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαἶνος‘fable’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἴνιγμαaínigma‘riddle’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaenigma‘riddle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1598enigma
Earliest quotation: 1598, William Shakespeare: “Some enigma, some riddle: come, thy l'envoy, begin.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- ‘important speech’
early, young, age, era, diet, junior, longevity, juvenile, ere, juvenal, 24 more
Today it means
noun Something or someone puzzling, mysterious or inexplicable.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek αἶνος / enigma