Delphic

[ del-fik ]

/ ˈdɛl fɪk /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for Delphic on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or relating to Delphi.

of or relating to Apollo, or to his temples or oracles.

(often lowercase) oracular; obscure; ambiguous: She was known for her Delphic pronouncements.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Delphic

1590–1600; <Latin Delphicus<Greek Delphikós, equivalent to Delph(oí) Delphi + -ikos-ic

OTHER WORDS FROM Delphic

del·phi·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby Delphic

de los Angeles, delouse, Delphi, Delphian, delphian node, Delphic, Delphic oracle, Delphinia, delphinin, delphinine, delphinium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Delphic in a sentence

But the only reply this Delphic utterance called forth from Peggy was a reproachful pinch.
Peggy Raymond's Vacation|Harriet L. (Harriet Lummis) Smith
The Bible is not a book of puzzles, a delphic oracle, to be read in any way suited to the occasion or desires.
The Other Side of Evolution|Alexander Patterson
He consulted the Delphic oracle with a view to learning the means of escaping from this disease.
Descriptive Analyses of Piano Works|Edward Baxter Perry
"Know thyself" and "Nothing too much" were inscribed upon the Delphic oracle.
Essays|Ralph Waldo Emerson

That was veritably a Delphic utterance at that moment, had Hiram only known it.
The Skipper and the Skipped|Holman Day

British Dictionary definitions for Delphic

Delphic

Delphian

/ (ˈdɛlfɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to Delphi or its oracle or temple

obscure or ambiguous

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