mystical

[ mis-ti-kuhl ]

adjective

1. mystic; of or relating to supernatural agencies, affairs, occurrences, etc.:

   a strange, mystical experience.

2. of or relating to mystics or mysticism:

   mystical writings.

3. spiritually symbolic:

   a mystical vision of the hereafter.

4. obscure in meaning; mysterious:

   mystical circumstances.

mystical

/ ˈmɪstɪkəl /

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of mysticism
2. Christianity having a divine or sacred significance that surpasses natural human apprehension
3. having occult or metaphysical significance, nature, or force
4. a less common word for mysterious

Derived Forms

• ˈmysticalness, noun
• ˈmystically, adverb

Other Words From

• mysti·cal·ly adverb
• mysti·cali·ty mysti·cal·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mystical¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; mystic, -al ¹

Synonym Study

See mysterious.

Example Sentences

In one passage, a man drives along L.A.’s concrete arteries, and several women on the street sing “freeway” in mystical harmonies.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the mystical women whose YouTube videos help me fall asleep would disagree.

From Salon

The 400-page fantasy novel Billy and the Epic Escape, which was published earlier this year, features an Aboriginal girl with mystical powers living in foster care who is abducted from her home in central Australia.

From BBC

“Great Gold Bird” can be heavy, tugging at our hearts even as it becomes more mystical — its themes ricocheting among grief, science fiction and spiritualism.

From Los Angeles Times

A woman says she was "slightly disappointed" after mistaking the bright colourful lights of a nearby tomato factory for a mystical aurora.

From BBC

Related Words

• esoteric
• magical