cryptic

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++cryp·tic /ˈkrɪptɪk/ adjective MYSTERIOUShaving a meaning that is mysterious or not easily understood 含意隐晦的；有隐义的cryptic remark/comment/statement etc a cryptic note at the end of the letter 信尾含意隐晦的一句话 —cryptically /-kli/ adverb

Examples from the Corpus

cryptic• Write down any error messages you see, no matter how cryptic.• But there is one story which, in a cryptic and covert way, does.• Indovina's lyrics are mostly cryptic and obscure.• Darby was a cheerfully relaxed young man who compiled cryptic crosswords for a monthly magazine in his spare time.• My journal is confused, almost cryptic on these matters.• He did not find the question cryptic or bizarre.• Rather, what she was saying with her cryptic scriptural reference was that I might not be asking the right question.• These variations appear cryptic to most westerners, and require some explanation.cryptic remark/comment/statement etc• They were doubled over, poking at each other, making cryptic comments and bursting again into laughter.Origin cryptic (1600-1700) Late Latin crypticus, from Greek, from kryptos; → CRYPTO-

cryp·tic adjectiveChineseSyllable

is a having or not easily mysterious Corpus meaning that

cryptic
cryp‧tic /ˈkrɪptɪk/

adjective

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Late Latin
Origin: crypticus, from Greek, from kryptos; ⇨ crypto-

having a meaning that is mysterious or not easily understood
cryptic remark/comment/statement etc

a cryptic note at the end of the letter
—cryptically /-kli/ adverb

THESAURUS

   ▪ mysterious difficult to explain or understand, and often strange or slightly frightening: the mysterious disappearance of ships in the waters of the Bermuda Triangle | What’s that mysterious noise?
   ▪ puzzling difficult to explain or understand: At first this must seem a puzzling question. | I found her attitude deeply puzzling.
   ▪ baffling impossible to understand, so that you feel very confused: It was a baffling case. | Like many people, I find theroretical physics baffling.
   ▪ inexplicable formal impossible to explain: For some inexplicable reason her mind went completely blank. | Some things in life are inexplicable.
   ▪ enigmatic formal mysterious and difficult to understand, but also often attractive or interesting – used especially about people, their expressions, or things they say: She gave him an enigmatic smile. | an enigmatic remark
   ▪ cryptic formal having a meaning that is difficult to understand, and is not expressed in a clear direct way – used especially about things that people say or write: I got a rather cryptic message from him. | cryptic comments
   ▪ be a mystery if something is a mystery, you cannot understand how or why it happens: Four years later, his death remains a complete mystery. | It’s all a mystery to me.
   ▪ be shrouded/veiled in mystery if an event or a situation, especially one that happened a long time ago, is shrouded in mystery, it is mysterious because no one knows exactly what happened: Stone age civilization, veiled in mystery as it is, has provided the greatest challenge to historians.

cryp·tic

BrE

/ˈkrɪptɪk/

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NAmE

/ˈkrɪptɪk/

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adjective