Cryptic Definition
krĭptĭk
adjective
Having a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious; baffling.
A cryptic comment.
Webster's New World
Secret or occult.
American Heritage
Obscure and curt in expression.
Webster's New World
Serving to conceal, as the form or coloration of certain animals.
Webster's New World
Using code or cipher.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun
(informal) A cryptic crossword.
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Cryptic
Noun
Singular:
cryptic
Plural:
crypticsOrigin of Cryptic
-
From Late Latin crypticus, from Ancient Greek κρυπτικός (kruptikos), from κρυπτός (kruptos, “hidden”), from κρύπτω (kruptō, “to hide”). Also see: cryptology.
From Wiktionary
Late Latin crypticus from Greek kruptikos from kruptos hidden from kruptein to hide
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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