the three greater mysteries
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In ecclesiastical language, the Trinity, Original Sin, and the Incarnation.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the three greater mysteries” mean?
In ecclesiastical language, the Trinity, Original Sin, and the Incarnation.
Is “the three greater mysteries” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.