Delphic

[del-fik]

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.

Origin of Delphic

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

Related formsdel·phi·cal·ly, adverb

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

Related Words for delphic

unimaginable, unintelligible, puzzling, impenetrable, opaque, unfathomable, baffling, mystifying, inconceivable, afraid, unsure, hesitant, touchy, shaky, apprehensive, anxious, uptight, troubled, enigmatic, ambiguous

Examples from the Web for delphic

Historical Examples of delphic

"A Delphic utterance, if ever there was one," he said, and laughed partly in relief.
Before the Dawn
Joseph Alexander Altsheler
With this Delphic utterance he put his finger to his lips, and vanished.
Tales of the Argonauts
Bret Harte
Like all prophecies, it was somewhat Delphic; but he could get the general drift.
The Blind Spot
Austin Hall
The Epirotes say that these are descended from the Delphic python.
Mythical Monsters
Charles Gould
Those Delphic lines: lines so crowded with meaning as to seem the utterances of an oracle.
Minor Poems by Milton
John Milton

British Dictionary definitions for delphic

Delphic

Delphian

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

Word Origin and History for delphic

Delphic

adj.

1590s, from Latin Delphicus, from Greek Delphikos, from Delphi (see Delphi).