cryptic

[ krip-tik ]

/ ˈkrɪp tɪk /

adjective Also cryp·ti·cal.

mysterious in meaning; puzzling; ambiguous: a cryptic message.

abrupt; terse; short: a cryptic note.

secret; occult: a cryptic writing.

involving or using cipher, code, etc.

Zoology. fitted for concealing; serving to camouflage.

noun

a cryptogram, especially one designed as a puzzle.

Nearby words

cryptanalysis, cryptanalytics, cryptanalyze, cryptectomy, cryptesthesia, cryptic, cryptitis, crypto, crypto-, crypto-jew, cryptoanalysis

Origin of cryptic

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

SYNONYMS FOR cryptic

1 enigmatic, perplexing.

Related formscryp·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·cryp·tic, adjectivenon·cryp·ti·cal, adjectivenon·cryp·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Synonym study

1. See ambiguous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cryptically

Cryptically, he added that he would like women to have more leadership roles in administrative and pastoral activities.
What About Women, Pope Francis?|Janine di Giovanni|August 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The areas where they overlap are cryptically blurred, impossible to anticipate what monstrosities might come from them.
Great Weekend Reads: December 30, 2011|Jacob Silverman, Michael Thomsen, Lauren Elkin|December 30, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The announcement says cryptically that there will be a “daily limit” on such access for “some search engines.”
The New York Times' Paywall Gamble|Howard Kurtz|March 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
When Tiger finally did issue a statement, it said cryptically: “this will never happen again.”
Tiger’s Troubles Deepen|Lisa DePaulo|December 2, 2009|DAILY BEAST

But earlier this month McCain cryptically Twittered that the proposal "appears to be a cap & tax bill that I won't support."
Bush Comes Out of Hiding|Matthew Yglesias|May 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST
“I am not anxious to see Miss McLeod,” he answered, cryptically.
The Mystery of the Green Ray|William Le Queux
I can do more accurate work with this than the machine gun, he said cryptically.
The Fifth-Dimension Tube|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
"There is always a doubt about getting money back from syndicates," said McNorton cryptically.
The Green Rust|Edgar Wallace
You know rudely, quickly, cryptically, or anything like that.
Seeing Things at Night|Heywood Broun
"If more men were foolish, the world would get along a good deal better," said Aunt Jane cryptically.
Aunt Jane|Jennette Lee

British Dictionary definitions for cryptically

cryptic

cryptical

/ (ˈkrɪptɪk) /

adjective

hidden; secret; occult

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

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

Derived Formscryptically, adverb

Word Origin for cryptic

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for cryptically

cryptic

[ krĭp′tĭk ]

n.

Hidden or concealed.

Tending to conceal or camouflage, as the coloring of an animal.

cryptic

adjective Also cryp·ti·cal.

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Origin of cryptic

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for cryptically

British Dictionary definitions for cryptically

cryptic

cryptical

adjective

Word Origin for cryptic

Medicine definitions for cryptically

cryptic

n.