enigmatic
[ en-ig-mat-ik, ee-nig- ]
/ ˌɛn ɪgˈmæt ɪk, ˌi nɪg- /
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adjective
resembling an enigma, or a puzzling occurrence, situation, statement, person, etc.; perplexing; mysterious: She has a perpetually enigmatic expression on her face.This is the most enigmatic book I have ever read!
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Also en·ig·mat·i·cal.
Origin of enigmatic
synonym study for enigmatic
See ambiguous.
historical usage of enigmatic
Enigmatic has always meant “ambiguous, obscure, perplexing” since the adjective entered English in the 17th century. This word comes from the Latin adjective aenigmaticus, from the Greek adjective ainigmatikós, a derivative of the Greek noun aínigma (stem ainigmat- ) “a dark saying, riddle, taunt.”
Aínigma (the direct source of English enigma , meaning “a riddle or puzzling situation”) is a derivative of the verb ainíssesthai “to speak in words full of content,” then “to speak in words difficult to understand,” and finally “to speak in riddles,” a progression in meaning that seems very apt in modern life. Ainíssesthai is a derivative of the noun aînos, “tale, story” in Homer, then “meaningful words, praise, tale with a moral, fable, riddle.” This little family of Greek words, like 60 percent of Greek vocabulary, has no known etymology.
Aínigma (the direct source of English enigma , meaning “a riddle or puzzling situation”) is a derivative of the verb ainíssesthai “to speak in words full of content,” then “to speak in words difficult to understand,” and finally “to speak in riddles,” a progression in meaning that seems very apt in modern life. Ainíssesthai is a derivative of the noun aînos, “tale, story” in Homer, then “meaningful words, praise, tale with a moral, fable, riddle.” This little family of Greek words, like 60 percent of Greek vocabulary, has no known etymology.
OTHER WORDS FROM enigmatic
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023