An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A prefix meaning “muscle,” as in myocardium. Also, especially before a vowel, my-.

Etymology (EN): From Gk. mys, → muscle, literally “mouse.”

Etymology (PE): Mây-, from mây, variant of mâhice, → muscle, in dialects (e.g. Musâ-Âbâdi, near Šahrezâ, Esfahân).

A prefix meaning “muscle,” as in myocardium. Also, especially before a vowel, my-.

Etymology (EN): From Gk. mys, → muscle, literally “mouse.”

Etymology (PE): Mây-, from mây, variant of mâhice, → muscle, in dialects (e.g. Musâ-Âbâdi, near Šahrezâ, Esfahân).

A vision defect commonly referred to as nearsightedness. The defective condition results when the image of a distant object is focused in front of the retina by the relaxed eye. It can be corrected by introducing a negative lens in front of the eye.

Etymology (EN): L., from Gk. myopia “near-sightedness,” from myops “near-sighted,” from myein “to shut” + ops (genitive opos) “eye.”

Etymology (PE): Nazdikbini, noun from nazdikbin “near-sighted,” from nazdik “near,” from nazd “near” + -ik, → -ic (Mid.Pers. nazd, nazdik; Av. nas- “to come near, approach, reach,” nazdišta- “nearest, next,” nazdyo “nearer to;” cf. Skt. nas- “to approach, to reach”)

• bin “to see; seer” (present stem of didan;
  Mid.Pers. wyn-; O.Pers. vain- “to see;” Av. vaēn- “to see;”
  Skt. veda “I know;” Gk. oida “I know,” idein “to see;” L. videre “to see;” PIE base *weid- “to know, to see”).

A vision defect commonly referred to as nearsightedness. The defective condition results when the image of a distant object is focused in front of the retina by the relaxed eye. It can be corrected by introducing a negative lens in front of the eye.

Etymology (EN): L., from Gk. myopia “near-sightedness,” from myops “near-sighted,” from myein “to shut” + ops (genitive opos) “eye.”

Etymology (PE): Nazdikbini, noun from nazdikbin “near-sighted,” from nazdik “near,” from nazd “near” + -ik, → -ic (Mid.Pers. nazd, nazdik; Av. nas- “to come near, approach, reach,” nazdišta- “nearest, next,” nazdyo “nearer to;” cf. Skt. nas- “to approach, to reach”)

• bin “to see; seer” (present stem of didan;
  Mid.Pers. wyn-; O.Pers. vain- “to see;” Av. vaēn- “to see;”
  Skt. veda “I know;” Gk. oida “I know,” idein “to see;” L. videre “to see;” PIE base *weid- “to know, to see”).

1. Full of, characterized by, or involving mystery.
   

2. Implying or suggesting a mystery (Dictionary.com).

See also: → mystery; → -ous.

1. Full of, characterized by, or involving mystery.
   

2. Implying or suggesting a mystery (Dictionary.com).

See also: → mystery; → -ous.

1. Anything that is kept → secret or remains unexplained or unknown.
   

2. Obscure, puzzling, or → mysterious quality or character (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. mysterie, from L. mysterium “secret rite, secret worship; a secret thing,” from Gk. mysterion “secret rite or doctrine,” from mystes “one who has been initiated,” from myein “to close, shut.”

Etymology (PE): Šârdé, from Laki šârd “concealed, hidden, secret,” âšârden “to hide, conceal;” cf. Kurd. hašâr, hâšâr “hidden, concealed,” šârdinawa, šârây “to hide,” Kâzeruni ker “hidden,” Av. sar- “shelter;” Proto-Ir. *sar- “to conceal, hide;” Skt. śárman- “cover, protection;” L. celare “to conceal from view;” Goth. huljan “to cover, conceal;” O.H.G. helan “to hide;” E. helmet; PIE *kel- “to conceal, hide, cover.”

1. Anything that is kept → secret or remains unexplained or unknown.
   

2. Obscure, puzzling, or → mysterious quality or character (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. mysterie, from L. mysterium “secret rite, secret worship; a secret thing,” from Gk. mysterion “secret rite or doctrine,” from mystes “one who has been initiated,” from myein “to close, shut.”

Etymology (PE): Šârdé, from Laki šârd “concealed, hidden, secret,” âšârden “to hide, conceal;” cf. Kurd. hašâr, hâšâr “hidden, concealed,” šârdinawa, šârây “to hide,” Kâzeruni ker “hidden,” Av. sar- “shelter;” Proto-Ir. *sar- “to conceal, hide;” Skt. śárman- “cover, protection;” L. celare “to conceal from view;” Goth. huljan “to cover, conceal;” O.H.G. helan “to hide;” E. helmet; PIE *kel- “to conceal, hide, cover.”

1a) Involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal.

1b) Of the nature of or pertaining to mysteries known only to the initiated.

1c) Of occult character, power, or significance.

2a) A person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy.

2b) A person initiated into religious mysteries (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. mystik, from O.Fr. mistique “mysterious, full of mystery,” from L. mysticus, from Gk. mystikos “secret, mystic, connected with the mysteries,” from mystes “an initiate into the mysteries,” + -ikos, → -ic.

1a) Involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal.

1b) Of the nature of or pertaining to mysteries known only to the initiated.

1c) Of occult character, power, or significance.

2a) A person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy.

2b) A person initiated into religious mysteries (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. mystik, from O.Fr. mistique “mysterious, full of mystery,” from L. mysticus, from Gk. mystikos “secret, mystic, connected with the mysteries,” from mystes “an initiate into the mysteries,” + -ikos, → -ic.

1. The beliefs, ideas, or mode of thought of mystics.
   

2. A doctrine of an immediate spiritual intuition of truths believed to transcend ordinary understanding, or of a direct, intimate union of the soul with God through contemplation or ecstasy.
   

3. Obscure thought or speculation (Dictionary.com).

See also: → mystic; → -ism.

1. The beliefs, ideas, or mode of thought of mystics.
   

2. A doctrine of an immediate spiritual intuition of truths believed to transcend ordinary understanding, or of a direct, intimate union of the soul with God through contemplation or ecstasy.
   

3. Obscure thought or speculation (Dictionary.com).

See also: → mystic; → -ism.

The act of mystifying or the condition of being mystified.

See also: → mystify; → -tion.

The act of mystifying or the condition of being mystified.

See also: → mystify; → -tion.

1. To confuse, bewilder, or puzzle.
   

2. To make mysterious or obscure.

See also: From Fr. mystifier, from mysti-, irregular combining form of mystique “mystic” or mystère,
“→ mystery” + -fier, → -fy.

1. To confuse, bewilder, or puzzle.
   

2. To make mysterious or obscure.

See also: From Fr. mystifier, from mysti-, irregular combining form of mystique “mystic” or mystère,
“→ mystery” + -fier, → -fy.

A traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From Fr. mythe and directly from M.L. mythus, from Gk. mythos “speech, thought, story, speech, account,” of unknown origin.

Etymology (PE): Osturé, from Ar. usturat, from Gk. historia, → history.

A traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From Fr. mythe and directly from M.L. mythus, from Gk. mythos “speech, thought, story, speech, account,” of unknown origin.

Etymology (PE): Osturé, from Ar. usturat, from Gk. historia, → history.