enigmatic

[ en-ig-mat-ik, ee-nig- ]
See synonyms for enigmatic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. 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!

Origin of enigmatic

1
First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin aenigmaticus, from Greek ainigmatikós, equivalent to ainigmat- (stem of aínigma “riddle, taunt”) + -ikos adjective suffix; see origin at enigma, -ic
  • Also en·ig·mat·i·cal.

synonym study For enigmatic

See ambiguous.

word story For 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.

Other words for enigmatic

Other words from enigmatic

  • en·ig·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·en·ig·mat·ic, adjective
  • non·en·ig·mat·i·cal, adjective
  • non·en·ig·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·en·ig·mat·ic, adjective
  • un·en·ig·mat·i·cal, adjective
  • un·en·ig·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use enigmatic in a sentence

  • A talk with this enigmatical cousin would be a proper climax to the triumphs of the night.

    Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
  • From time to time he would throw to the Nabob across the table a few words enigmatical for all.

    The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
  • I went up to an empty table, asked for a pot of beer and a newspaper, and sat down not far off from this enigmatical being.

  • "The gods reveal many things to those they love," was Peter Gross's enigmatical reply.

    The Argus Pheasant | John Charles Beecham
  • I said, finding this explosion and electrical inspiration rather enigmatical.

    A Traveler from Altruria: Romance | William Dean Howells