pseudomystical

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adjective

Apparently, but not actually, mystical; having pretensions of mysticism.

OriginEnglish mystical ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? ← Old French mistique →
Scrabble 24
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Meanings

adjectivepseudomystical (comparative more pseudomystical, superlative most pseudomystical)

comparative more pseudomystical · superlative most pseudomystical

  1. Apparently, but not actually, mystical; having pretensions of mysticism.

    Some opera experts disparage “Suor Angelica” as maudlin and pseudomystical.

    2007 April 23, Anthony Tommasini, “3 Puccinis, Separate, but Equal in Grandeur”, in New York Times

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekψεύδω (pseúdō)
  2. Ancient Greekψευδής (pseudḗs)
  3. Middle Englishpseudo-
  4. Englishpseudo-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*mewH-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*mewH-ye-
  7. Ancient Greekμῡ́ω (mū́ō)
  8. Ancient Greekμῠέω (mŭéō)
  9. Ancient Greekμῠ́στης (mŭ́stēs)
  10. Ancient Greekμῠστῐκός (mŭstĭkós)
  11. Latinmysticus
  12. Old Frenchmistique
  13. Englishmystic
  14. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  15. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  16. Englishmystical
  17. Englishpseudomystical

From pseudo- + mystical.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pseudomystical. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudomystical

MLA

“pseudomystical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudomystical. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pseudomystical,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudomystical.

Source: pseudomystical on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.