cryptic
pronunciation
How to pronounce cryptic in British English:
UK [ˈkrɪptɪk]
How to pronounce cryptic in American English:
US [ˈkrɪptɪk]
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- Adjective:
- of an obscure nature
- having a secret or hidden meaning
- having a puzzling terseness
Word Origin
- cryptic (adj.)
- 1630s, "hidden, occult, mystical," from Late Latin crypticus, from Greek kryptikos "fit for concealing," from kryptos "hidden" (see crypt). Meaning "mysterious, enigmatic" is recorded from 1920. Related: Cryptically.
Example
- 1. You sounded a little cryptic when you called .
- 2. Just months after his microsoft farewell , bill gates is quietly creating a new company -- complete with high-tech office space , a cryptic name and even its own trademark .
- 3. Throughout the operating system , microsoft has made it easier to adjust settings and substituted plain-english explanations for cryptic error messages .
- 4. A somewhat cryptic diplomatic cable that emerged in september suggested the two governments discussed the idea in 2009 and decided the president shouldn 't go .
- 5. This last was a rare reference , albeit cryptic , to a subject usually discussed only in whispers : israel 's contingency plans to bomb iran 's nuclear facilities .