LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neuterthird declension

aenigma

aenigma n (genitive aenigmatis)
Classical[ae̯ˈnɪɡ.ma]Ecclesiastical[eˈniɡ.ma]

Meaning

  1. neutera riddle, enigma
  2. neuteran allegory
  3. neutera mystery

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeaenigmaaenigmata
aenigmatēs, ēnigmata
genitiveaenigmatis
ēnigmatis		aenigmatum
ēnigmatum
dativeaenigmatī
ēnigmatī		aenigmatibus
ēnigmatibus
accusativeaenigma
aenigmatem		aenigmata
aenigmatēs, ēnigmata
ablativeaenigmate
ēnigmate		aenigmatibus
ēnigmatibus
vocativeaenigmaaenigmata
aenigmatēs, ēnigmata

aenigmă, ătis, n., = αἴνιγμα (dat. and
I. abl. plur. aenigmatis, Charis. p. 38 P.), that which is enigmatical or dark in a figurative representation, an allegory; accto Quintilian's expl.: allegoria, quae est obscurior, Inst. 8, 6, 52; Cic. de Or. 3, 42.—
II. Of other things.
A. That which is dark, obscure, or inexplicable; a riddle, enigma, obscurity: regina Saba venit temptare eum in aenigmatibus, Vulg. 3 Reg. 10, 1: obscuritates et aenigmata somniorum, Cic. Div. 2, 64; aenigma numero Platonis obscurius, id. Att. 7, 13: legum, Juv. 8, 50: palam et non per aenigmata Dominum videt, Vulg. Num. 12, 8; 1 Cor. 13, 12.—
B. A mystery; a mystical tenet or dogma in religion, Arn 3, p. 109.

Origins

Borrowed from Ancient Greek αἴνιγμα (aínigma, “riddle”).

Descendants
  • Catalanenigma
  • Englishenigma
  • Frenchénigme
  • Portugueseenigma
  • Romanianenigmă
  • Spanishenigma
  • Siciliannimma

In English words that came into English from aenigma

  • enigmaaenigma

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesAenigmaAenigma (αἴνιγμα), a riddle. It appears to have been a very ancient custom among the Greeks, especially at their symposia, to amuse themselves by prop…

Quick answers

What does aenigma mean in Latin?
aenigma, a noun, means “a riddle, enigma; an allegory; a mystery”.
What is the genitive of aenigma?
The genitive singular is aenigmatis. aenigma is neuter, third declension.
How do you pronounce aenigma?
In classical Latin, [ae̯ˈnɪɡ.ma]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [eˈniɡ.ma].