cryptic

[krip-tik]

adjective

1. mysterious in meaning; puzzling; ambiguous.

   a cryptic message.

   Synonyms: enigmatic

2. abrupt; terse; short.

   a cryptic note.

3. secret; occult.

   a cryptic writing.

4. involving or using cipher, code, etc.

5. Zoology.,  fitted for concealing; serving to camouflage.

noun

1. a cryptogram, especially one designed as a puzzle.

cryptic

/ ˈkrɪptɪk /

adjective

1. hidden; secret; occult

2. (esp of comments, sayings, etc) obscure in meaning

3. (of the coloration of animals) tending to conceal by disguising or camouflaging the shape

Other Word Forms

• cryptically adverb
• noncryptic adjective
• noncryptical adjective
• noncryptically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryptic¹

1595–1605; < Late Latin crypticus < Greek kryptikós hidden. See crypt, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryptic¹

C17: from Late Latin crypticus, from Greek kruptikos, from kruptos concealed; see _crypt

Synonym Study

See ambiguous.

Related Words

• ambiguous 
• arcane 
• enigmatic 
• equivocal 
• incomprehensible 
• mysterious 
• strange 
• vague 
• veiled