Quick Definition
αἴνιγμα, ατος, τό n.n. a riddle, an enigma
Strong's Definition
from a derivative of 136 (in its primary sense); an obscure saying ("enigma"), i.e. (abstractly) obscureness
KJV Usage: X darkly
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -τος | αἰνίσσομαι (speak in riddles)
32.21 · Understand · Ease or Difficulty in Understanding
that which is puzzling, that which is difficult to understand, puzzle, riddle that which is difficult or impossible to understand In 1CO 13:12 the term αἴνιγμα may be interpreted as lack of clarity in perception, so that the meaning would be ‘that which is difficult to see clearly,’ but the general usage of αἴνιγμα would seem to point to the meaning of difficulty in understanding and comprehension rather than in visual perception. For another interpretation of αἴνιγμα in 1CO 13:12, see 24.37.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
αἴνιγμα, -ros, τό, (common fr. [Pind. frag. 165 (190),] Aeschyl. down; fr. αἰνίσσομαι or aivirropai τι to express something obscurely, [fr. αἶνος, 4. ν.7); 1. an obscure saying, an enigma, Hebr. WN (Judg. xiv. 13, Sept. πρόβλημα). 2. an obscure thing: 1 Co. xiii. 12, where ἐν αἰνίγματι is not equiv. to αἰνιγματικῶς i. 6. ἀμαυρῶς obscurely, but denotes the object in the discerning of which wé are engaged, as βλέπειν ἔν τινι, Mt. vi. 4; cf. De Wette ad loc.; the apostle has in mind Num. xii. 8 Sept.: ἐν εἴδει καὶ οὐ δὲ αἰνιγμάτων. [Al. take ἐν locally, of the sphere in which we are looking; al. refer the pass. to 1. and take ἐν instrumentally. ]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
αἴνιγμα ainigma 1x
an enigma, riddle, any thing obscurely expressed or intimated, 1 Cor. 13:12*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
αἴνιγμα, -ατος, τό
(< αἰνίσσομαι, to speak in riddles; < αἰνός = δεινός, dread, strange), [in LXX for חִידָה, Nu 12:8 and always exc. De 28:37 (שַׁמָּה);]
a dark saying, riddle: I Co 13:12 (cf. Nu 12:8).†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
αἴνιγμα (ainigma) — obscure thing. αἴνιγμα, ατος, τό, dark saying, riddle, [LXX+5th c.BC+] in riddles, darkly, [NT+4th c.BC+]; αἴ. προβάλλειν, ξυντιθέναι, πλέκειν to make a riddle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to διειπεῖν, εἰδέναι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. taunt, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
III. ambush [Refs 4th c.AD+]