Cryptic
WordNet
adjective
(1) Having a puzzling terseness
"A cryptic note"
(2) Having a secret or hidden meaning
"Cabalistic symbols engraved in stone"
"Cryptic writings"
"Thoroughly sibylline in most of his pronouncements"- John Gunther
(3) 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"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From , from , from , from
Adjective
- Having hidden meaning.
- Mystified or of an obscure nature.
- Involving use of code or cipher.
Noun
- 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.
- 2009, Bill Taylor, Building a crossword (in Toronto Star, 1 February 2009)