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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mistery, -ie, Mystery, -ie, n. Also: misteré, mistrei, myster, mystré, mestri; also Myster. Plur. misteriis, -ies, -eis, etc., also misteris, mestris. [ME. (c 1315) and e.m.E. mystery(e, -ie, mistery(e, -ie, mystry, -i, AF. *misterie (OF. mistere, mod. F. mystère), L. mystērium.]

1. A religious truth or doctrine, esp. one which is beyond human comprehension or explanation. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 107/30.
Tretand this nobile mater and mysterie of the jncarnacioune jn hevin Ib. 129/9.
This nobile and hie mystere suld nocht be hid fra the angellis Ib. 126/20. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 330/1.
The misterijs of Cristis concepcoun, … resurrectioun and ascencioun 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 54.
Ful perfitely he writis seir misteris fell Ib. 143.
The glorius Modir … Quhilk of hir natur consavit Criste and buir Al hail the misteris of the Trinite Arundel MS. 251/265.
Mystre 1561 Q. Kennedy Compend. Ressonyng (ed.) 151/20.
Towart the trew vndirstanding of the obscuriteis and misteriis of Goddis worde Ib. 155/20; etc.
Declarand the misterie of the diuine nature of oure salueour 1562-3 Winȝet I. 24/29.
Sen now al men wilbe … curius seircearis of the hie mysteriis of God Ib. II. 39/5.
The Catholik Kirk … nothir blasphemis contrare the mysterie of the Trinitie nor [etc.] 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 88.
For matrimonie (as the apostle sayis) dois trewly contene ane greit mysterie

2. A religious rite or sacrament. 1560 Bk. Disc. in 1558-66 Knox II. 240.
None ar apt to be admitted to that mysterie [sc. communion] who can not formalie say the Lordis Prayer [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 2/3.
The rycht onderstanding of the profund mistery of the blissit sacrament of the altare, and al other misteryis contenit in the scripturis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 21/22. Ib. 133/33. 1581 Burne Disput. 47 b.
The Gentilis vsit to baptise thame quha come to thair mistereis and to mark thame in the forret 1596 Dalr. II. 436/18. 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 571.
By religion, yea by one of the sacredest misteries of it, even the celebration of our Lord's Supper 1684 Dunblane Synod 206. 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. 72.
To practise slights for procuring a privacy to any of their misteries

3. A mysterious or inexplicable thing or process; a hidden or secret thing; a riddle or enigma; a saying or matter difficult to understand. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke viii. marg.
To schaw alsua the misteryes of his worde vnto babes, and to hide them fra the wyse men 1562-3 Winȝet II. 46/18.
Be a meruolous and intellable mysterie it attributis the godlie propirteis to man, and the manlie to God Ib. 55/28.
The secrete of sa grete a mysterie Ib. 71/10.
Be thame the mysteriis of the prophetis ar oppinnit to the people 1581 Burne in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 160/36.
Quhilk mysterie … vald haue bene vtheruyse vnknauin to the varld 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 98.
God hes nocht gewin … to trew Christians sic secreitt and hid mistereis to knaw 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 370.
Now followis the secund part of the commendatioun of the gospel in ane mysterie. It is in ane mysterie, it was hid up Ib. 384.
Thair is ane mysterie of sinne lying in the faldis of his hart 1608 Crim. Trials II. 261. 1653 Binning Wks. 579.
The mystery of the spirit is spent this way 1685 Wodrow Hist. (1830) IV. 286.
This hellish mystery of antichristian iniquity and arbitrary tyranny a (1692) R. Kirk in Il Cappellano delle Fate 63.
The doctor called the mason-word a rabbinical mystery

b. The explanation or key to something that is abstruse or kept secret; a technical ‘secret’. 1632 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I. 318.
I sall shaw unto yow the haill mistrei of my lowe quhilk I interteine for your sweit seak 1679 Lauder Jrnl. 285.
The mysterie of iniquitie unvailled, by G. Burnet, 9 pence 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 157.
No man hath now the mysterie of his fortun writen in his name 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 812.
Thomas Weir, under pretence that he got the mysterie [sc. the composition of a pill] of it … has … obtained a … signator … that none else sell it but he

4. ? A miracle-play, mystery-play.Cf. MF. mistere (15th c.) in the same use. 1555 Edinb. Hammermen I. 199.
To ane callit Wilsoun that plaid on the squasche the tua dayis that the tovn maid ther mestris