Link Centre Dictionary

cryptic

cryp·tic

UK/ˈkɹɪptɪk/ US/ˈkrɪptɪk/ uncommon informal

adjective

1.

of an obscure nature

  • “the new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms”
  • “a deep dark secret”
  • “the inscrutable workings of Providence”
  • “in its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life” Rachel Carson
  • “rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands”
Synonyms
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2.

having a secret or hidden meaning

  • “cabalistic symbols engraved in stone”
  • “cryptic writings”
  • “thoroughly sibylline in most of his pronouncements” John Gunther
Synonyms
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3.

having a puzzling terseness

  • “a cryptic note”
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Origin

From Late Latin crypticus, from Ancient Greek κρυπτικός (kruptikós), from κρυπτός (kruptós, “hidden”), from κρύπτω (krúptō, “to hide”). Doublet of kryptic.

Phrases

  • cryptic crossword
  • cryptic definition
  • cryptic ovulation
  • cryptic species

Related words

Word family

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.