mystic, n. and adj.

: Oxford English Dictionary

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Oxford English Dictionary | The definitive record of the English language

mystic, n. and adj.

Pronunciation: Brit. /mstk/ , U.S. /mstk/ Forms: ME mistike, ME mistyk, ME myistik, ME mystik, ME mystike, ME mystyk, ME mystyke, ME15 mistik, ME18 mistic, ME mystic, lME (in a late copy) 15 mystec (in a derivative), 15 mistyc (in a derivative), 15 mystyc (in a derivative), 16 misticke, 16 mistique, 16 mysticke, 16 mystique, 1617 mistick, 1617 mystick; Sc. pre-17 mistic (in a derivative), pre-17 mistice, pre-17 mistik, pre-17 mistike, pre-17 mistique, pre-17 mistyk, pre-17 mystice, pre-17 mystick, pre-17 mystik, pre-17 mystyk, pre-17 17 18 mistick, pre-17 17 mystic. Etymology: As noun in sense A. 1 < post-classical Latin mysticum (early 5th cent. in St Augustine), use as noun of neuter singular of classical Latin mysticus (see below; compare Byzantine Greek (neuter, also , feminine) mystical doctrine (5th cent.)); in sense A. 3 < Hellenistic Greek initiate (recorded in plural, ), use as noun of masculine singular of (see below); in sense A. 2 probably < the English adjective (although compare post-classical Latin mysticus priest (4th cent. of both pagan priests and Jewish priests), French mistique person who gives himself or herself up to mysticism (1673)). As adjective < classical Latin mysticus relating to sacred mysteries, mysterious, in post-classical Latin also symbolic, allegorical (4th cent.) < ancient Greek relating to sacred mysteries, in Hellenistic Greek also symbolic, allegorical, spiritual, esoteric, mysterious, occult < MYSTES n. + - -IC suffix. Compare the adjectives Middle French mystique (c1380), Italian mistico (a1364), Spanish mstico (1515), Catalan mstic (1696), Portuguese mystico (17th cent.). As an adjective mystic is now more or less interchangeable with MYSTICAL adj. in general use, but often has a more literary character.

A. n. 1. Mystical meaning; symbolic or allegorical representation. Obs.

c1350 (1333) WILLIAM OF SHOREHAM Poems (1902) 76 (MED), ys ylke bok e mistyk ys Of ese sacrementis. c1350 (1333) WILLIAM OF SHOREHAM Poems (1902) 30 (MED), For water self nys naut at blod, Ac hyt hys an-ylyke Ine folke at torne al to cryst Ine e body of mystyke. c1350 (a1333) WILLIAM OF SHOREHAM Poems (1902) 23 Cryst and hijs membrys, men, O body bee ine mystyke. a1382 Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) vii. 6 Exodus is opyn with e tenn plagez, with e x hestez, with mystyke [L. cum mysticis], & with goddis preceptes.

2. Originally: an exponent or advocate of mystical theology. In later use also: any person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain union with or absorption into God, or who believes in the

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spiritual apprehension of truths which are beyond the intellect; a person who has or seeks mystical experiences.
1640 W. VAUGHAN Church Militant 159 That no Lay-men receive the Sacrament By Married Priests, though with devout intent; As if Gods Mysticks from John Baptists Sire, Or Peter savour'd of Profaner Fire. 1679 W. PENN Addr. Protestants (1692) II. 146 Taulerus, Thomas a Kempis, and othere Misticks in that Communion. 1714 R. FIDDES Pract. Disc. II. 380 Those mysticks who would discard the passions of hope and fear. 1765 A. MACLAINE tr. J. L. von Mosheim Eccl. Hist. Cent. XV. I. i. 11 The Mystics were defended against their adversaries, the Dialecticians, partly by the Platonics. 1781 W. COWPER Truth 128 An Indian mystic. 1856 R. A. VAUGHAN Hours with Mystics I. Pref. p. v, The way in which mystics reduced themselves to utter inactivity. 1875 B. JOWETT tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 595 He is no mystic or ascetic seeking absorption in the divine nature. 1899 W. R. INGE Christian Mysticism vii. 258 To the true mystic, life itself is a sacrament. 1925 G. K. CHESTERTON Everlasting Man I. vi. 152 Here we can place the mysterious figure of Manes or Manichaeus, the mystic of inversion. 1952 P. TILLICH Courage to Be ii. 36 People who have experienced these moments, as for instance some mystics in their visions of the night of the soul..have told of the unimaginable horror of it. 1993 Guardian 4 Aug. II. 8/1 Poor old Glastonbury. It can't help being a magnet for poets and mystics and assorted yabbering crackpots.

3. = MYSTES n. Obs. rare.

1859 C. KINGSLEY Misc. I. 327 A mysticaccording to the Greek etymologyshould signify one who is initiated into mysteries. 1871 B. JOWETT tr. Plato Dialogues I. 381 This was the meaning of the founders of the mysteries when they said, Many are the wand bearers but few are the mystics [Gk. ].

B. adj. 1. Theol. Having a spiritual character or significance by virtue of a connection or union with God which transcends human understanding; = MYSTICAL adj. 1.
a1382 Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) vii. 162 Iamez, Peture, Ioon, Iude, seuen epystlez maden, as wel mystyke [a1425 L.V. goostly and mystik; L. mysticas] as redy.

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a1398 J. TREVISA tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 103 , at we may by liknesse of bodiliche propirtees e more esiliche vndirstonde mistik & spiritual menynge in holy writt. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Isa. iii. 3 A prudent man of mystik, ethir goostli [a1382 E.V. priue; L. mystici], speche. c1475 (c1445) R. PECOCK Donet 107 If in dyuynite were no strenger groundis forto holde erbi ingis to be trewe an ben mystyk conceitis takun bi holy scripture [etc.]. 1490 CAXTON tr. Eneydos ix. 37 To rendre theym from theyr lacyuyte, in-to pudike, mystike, and shamefaste chastyte. 1535 G. JOYE Apol. Tindale (Arb.) 36 Not in a mistik allegory. 1552 ABP. J. HAMILTON Catech. Tabil sig. *.v , The haly kirk is callit the mistike bodye and spouse of Christ. 1606 W. BIRNIE Blame of Kirk-buriall xvii, The olde holy places..had..a mistick meaning. 1648 J. BEAUMONT Psyche VII. lxxxi. 102 For genuine Divinity Shall be ingag'd, but in a mystick fashion, In the great Businesse of his Generation. 1656 A. COWLEY Davideis II. 48 in Poems, Thy right hand does hold The mystick Scepter of a Cross of Gold. 1716 S. W. in Nelson's Pract. True Devot. (1784) p. xvi, Taught how to take the mystic Bread and Wine, T'adore the Substance, nor neglect the Sign. 1817 S. T. COLERIDGE Ode Departing Year (rev. ed.) in Sibylline Leaves v. 54 Till wheeling round the throne the lampads seven, (The mystic Words of Heaven) Permissive signal make. 1827 J. KEBLE Christian Year I. xlix. 195 The mystic Dove Hovering His gracious brow above. 1849 E. CASWALL Lyra Catholica 55 Offerings of mystic meaning!Incense doth the God disclose [etc.]. 1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 479/1 In the middle ages the parures, which originally had no mystic intention whatever, were taken to symbolize the wounds of Christ. 1998 Church Times 9 Jan. 10/3 Jan Van Eyck painted the magnificent Ghent altarpiece, which is a panorama of medievalistic sanctity engaged in visionary adoration of Christ as mystic Lamb.
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2. Obscure, esoteric, mysterious; = MYSTICAL adj. 2.

a1398 J. TREVISA tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 78 , Sweuenes at be trewe bu somtyme opun and playne and somtyme iwrappid in figuratif, mistik, and dim and derke tokenynges and bodinges. a1530 (1425) ANDREW OF WYNTOUN Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) VII. 473 To say..Quhat sygnyfyid that mystyk word That he swa spak than at the borde. 1558 LD. CASSILLIS Let. 15 Dec. in R. V. Agnew Corr. P. Waus (1887) I. 13 [We] fand your writtingis sa mystik, that we could nocht onderstand. a1599 R. ROLLOCK Sel. Wks. (1849) I. 370 For men will say, O it is ane mystick and secreit thing. a1631 J. DONNE Elegies viii, in Poems (1633) 55 Foole, thou didst not understand The mystique language of the eye nor hand.
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1648 J. BEAUMONT Psyche III. lxxxiii. 32 The Angells Word full in the Priests face flew, And fastned mystick Chains upon his Tongue. 1693 J. EDWARDS Disc. conc. Old & New-Test. I. v. 187 The antient Sages and Philosophers were obscure and mystick in their Stile. 1718 N. ROWE tr. Lucan Pharsalia I. 125 Let Phbus dwell Still uninvok'd in Cyrrha's mystick cell. 1727 D. DEFOE Syst. Magick I. iii. 67 These mystick Characters were the Original of all the Hyeroglyphick Writing. 1791 A. RADCLIFFE Romance of Forest II. ix. 61 Her mind..rejected the mystic and turbulent promptings of imagination. 1807 tr. Three Germans I. 48 He sighed for the explanation to Holstein's mystic conduct. 1819 SCOTT Ivanhoe III. vii. 172 Is there no leech here who can tell us the ingredients of this mystic unguent? 1882 Ballou's Monthly Mag. Aug. 130/2 How strange to think that dear, familiar face had passed from mortal sight to the mystic spirit-land! 1957 J. KEROUAC On Road II. vi. 147 There was a mystic wraith of fog over the brown waters that night. 1997 Source Oct. 16/1 Spending Friday and Saturday nights on someone's stoop, ears glued to the mystic sounds of Red Alert and Mister Magic.

3. Of or relating to mysterious or occult rites or practices; = MYSTICAL adj. 4.

1577 in T. Thomson Acts & Proc. Kirk of Scotl. (1839) I. 384 The heid given to the laird of Dun..being thocht be him obscure and mystick. 1615 G. SANDYS Relation of Journey 79 Drinke three, or three thrice told, A mysticke law of old. 1627 M. DRAYTON Moone-calfe in Battaile Agincovrt 175 When turning ouer his most mistique bookes, Into the secrets of his Art he lookes. 1644 MILTON Doctr. Divorce (ed. 2) 42 Their filthines was hid, but the mystick reason therof known to their Sages. 1697 DRYDEN tr. Virgil neis I, in tr. Virgil Wks. 212, I have search'd the Mystick Rolls of Fate [L. fatorum arcana]. 1725 W. BROOME in Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey III. XI. 59 And mutter'd vows, and mystic song apply'd To griesly Pluto, and his gloomy bride. 1785 R. BURNS Poems 59 When Masons' mystic word an' grip, In storms an' tempests raise you up. 1805 SCOTT Lay of Last Minstrel V. xxvii. 151 Cared not the Ladye to betray Her mystic arts in view of day. 1875 H. L. MANSEL Gnostic Heresies iii. 41 Some of these..prepare a bridal chamber, and perform certain mystic rites of initiation. 1911 F. H. BURNETT Secret Garden xxiv. 261 Every beautiful morning the Magic was worked by the mystic circle under the plum-tree. 1996 Spy (N.Y.) Apr. 28/1 Short-fingered acolyte Donald Trump may have been introduced to the mystic secrets of the East by dim New-Agey trophy wife Marla.

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4. Secret, concealed; = MYSTICAL adj. 5. Obs. rare.

a1625 J. FLETCHER Noble Gentleman IV. v, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ff /2, These are but illusions to give couller To your most misticke leacherie.
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5. Relating to or dealing with spiritual or transcendental matters; relating to mystics or mysticism; = MYSTICAL adj. 3. See also mystic theology n. at Special uses.
1629 A. BAKER Secretum (1997) 9 All these Mystick writers in Expressement of the Spirituall Course they have run, doe seem to differ wholly..from one another. 1677 T. GALE Court of Gentiles: Pt. III III. 153 These mystic Divines glorie in their Tropologic, Anagogic and Allegoric explication of Scripture. 1683 J. NORRIS Idea of Happiness 37 Seraphic Love, and this with Contemplation makes up that which the Mystic Divines Stile the Unitive way of Religion. 1765 A. MACLAINE tr. J. L. von Mosheim Eccl. Hist. Cent. xiii. II. iii. 4 The Mystic doctors carried this visionary method of interpreting scripture to the greatest height. 1852 H. B. STOWE Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xvi. 246 Eva..had stood listening to her mother, with that expression of deep and mystic earnestness which was peculiar to her. 1854 H. H. MILMAN Hist. Lat. Christianity III. VIII. v. 351 The difficult and mystic work which bore the name of Dionysius the Areopagite. 1892 Dict. National Biogr. XXX. 411/2 He..published..two works of mystic scriptural exegesis, An Introduction to the Apocalypse, and Fo, the Third Messenger of God. 1931 R. ALDINGTON Colonel's Daughter v. 287 He shared with her the common but essentially mystic passion for gadgets. 1991 J. DAVIDSON Nat. Creation & Formative Mind (BNC) 68 We are an integral part of this cosmic energy dance and can only really understand it all by mystic superconsciousness, from within.

6. That inspires an awed sense of mystery.

1842 TENNYSON Morte d'Arthur in Poems (new ed.) II. 10 An arm Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful. 1852 H. B. STOWE Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xxvi. 111 At midnight,strange, mystic hour! when the veil between the frail present and the eternal future grows thin. 1875 B. JOWETT tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. 380 Such is the mystic voice which is always murmuring in his ears. 1902 Daily Chron. 2 Oct. 7/1 Even the less observant..hasten to the Synagogue to-day to listen to the mystic sound of the Ram's Horn trumpets. 1967 R. DAHL Charlie & Chocolate Factory xii. 48 Mystic and marvellous surprises..will entrance, delight, intrigue, astonish and perplex you beyond measure.

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1991 J. BOW Jane's Journey (BNC) 103, I read that [sc. the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam] when I was sixteenand it had, well, an almost mystic effect on me.

SPECIAL USES

mystic testament n. [compare French testament mystique (1759)] U.S. Law (in Louisiana) a sealed will or testament.
1825 Louisiana Civil Code III. II. vi. 373 The execution of the mystic testaments cannot be ordered, until they have been..proved by the declaration on oath. 1839 J. BOUVIER Law Dict. U.S.A. II. 435/2 A mystic testament is also called a solemn testament, because it requires more formality than a nuncupative testament. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 574/1 A special form of will, borrowed from Roman law, called the mystic or sealed will. 1960 W. J. BOWE & D. H. PARKER Page on Law of Wills (ed. 3) II. xx. 340 As mystical as the name may sound, a mystic testament in Louisiana is nothing more than a form of will the contents of which are kept secret.

mystic theology n. [compare French theologie mistique (1635 in the passage translated in quot. 1639)] = mystical theology n. at MYSTICAL adj. Special uses.
1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosq Compl. Woman II. 29 Saint Bridget hath written so well of the Mistick Theology, that even the learnedest men admire her doctrine. 1728 E. CHAMBERS Cycl. at Mystic, Mystic Theology, is a refin'd and sublime kind of Divinity, profess'd by the Mystics. 1912 Catholic Encycl. XIV. 697/1 The writings of St. Thomas..are replete with practical norms of mystic theology.

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