cryptic

English

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• cryptick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Late Latin crypticus, from Ancient Greek κρυπτικός (kruptikos), from κρυπτός (kruptos, “hidden”), from κρύπτω (kruptō, “to hide”). Also see: cryptology.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkɹɪptɪk/, X-SAMPA: /"krIptIk/

Adjective

cryptic (comparative more cryptic, superlative most cryptic)

1. Having hidden meaning.
2. Mystified or of an obscure nature.
   • Glanvill

     Her [nature's] more cryptic ways of working.

3. Involving use of code or cipher/cypher.
4. (zoology) Well camouflaged; having good camouflage.

   Lonomia caterpillars are extremely cryptic.

Translations

having hidden meaning

• Bulgarian: таен (bg) (taen)
• German: kryptisch (de)

• Korean: 숨은 뜻을 가진 (ko)
• Spanish: críptico (es)

mystified or of an obscure nature

• Bulgarian: загадъчен (bg) (zagadǎčen)
• French: mystérieux (fr), énigmatique (fr)
• German: kryptisch (de)

• Korean: 아리송한 (ko)
• Spanish: críptico (es)

involving use of code or cipher

• Bulgarian: шифрован (bg) (šifrovan)
• German: kryptisch (de)

• Hebrew: מוצפן (he)
• Spanish: críptico (es)

Noun

cryptic (plural cryptics)

1. (informal) A cryptic crossword.
   • 2009, Bill Taylor, Building a crossword (in Toronto Star, 1 February 2009)

     This writer has been solving cryptics for 40 years and can usually crack Araucaria, though it might take a couple of days.

Derived terms

• cryptically
• cryptogram