enigmatology
Definitions
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The science of enigmas and their solution; the study of puzzles.
‘Enigma’ comes from the Greek ‘ainigma,’ riddle, which comes from ‘ainissesthai,’ speak obscurely, speak in riddles. ‘Ainissesthai’ comes from ‘ainos,’ fable, riddle. The word-forming element ‘-ology’ indicates ‘branch of knowledge, science.’
Examples
“Puzzle master Will Shortz earned a degree in enigmatology the study of puzzles from Indiana University in 1974.”
“The Ladies and Gentleman's Diaries are better (even) than they have been for some years in the critical, mathematical, and philosophical departments, for which they have heen so long renowned and no worse in their ‘enigmatology.’”
The Mechanics' Magazine, Museum, Register, Journal, and Gazette, Volume 18
“Enigmatology - Shortz says you can look it up in Webster's unabridged - is the study of puzzles: The crosswords, acrostics, cryptograms and other mind-twisters that an estimated 50 million Americans like to grapple with on trains and planes, at the beach or on plain old rainy Sunday afternoons at home.”
'He Got a Degree in Enigmatology,' The News and Courier, February 27, 1978
