enigma

Where does the word "enigma" come from? It comes from Greek ainigma, passing through Latin and French before entering English (1500s).

Enigma’s story begins in Greek: ainigma meant “a riddle.” Meaning "a riddle" or "dark saying". By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as aenigma. The Sphinx's riddle to Oedipus was the classic 'ainigma'; the Nazi 'Enigma' cipher machine took the name. From there it passed into French as enigme by medieval. Carried the term into French. It reached English by 1500s as enigma. Settled as the English word for something puzzling. Today, enigma means a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ainigma "a riddle", meaning "a riddle" or "dark saying".
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient aenigma "a riddle, puzzle", the Sphinx's riddle to Oedipus was the classic 'ainigma'; the Nazi 'Enigma' cipher machine took the name.
3. Stage 3 · French · medieval enigme "a puzzle, mystery", carried the term into French.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s enigma "a puzzling or mysterious thing", settled as the English word for something puzzling.