From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cryptic \Cryp"tic\ (kr[i^]p"t[i^]k), Cryptical \Cryp"tic*al\
(-t?-kal), a. [L. crypticus, Gr. kryptiko`s, fr. kry`ptein to
hide.]
Hidden; secret; occult. "Her [nature's] more cryptic ways of
working." --Glanvill.
[1913 Webster]
2. incomprehensible to those not familiar with the culture or
jargon; as, the new insurance policy is written without
cryptic or mysterious terms.
Syn: inscrutable, mysterious, mystifying.
[WordNet 1.5]
3. having a secret or hidden meaning; as, cryptic symbols
engraved in stone; cryptic writings.
Syn: cabalistic, occult, secret, sibylline.
[WordNet 1.5]
3. having a puzzling terseness; as, a cryptic note.
[WordNet 1.5]
4. not evident; unrecognized; as, a cryptic infection.
[PJC]
5. written in a code or cipher; as, a cryptic message.
Syn: encoded, enciphered, encrypted.
[PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
cryptic
adj 1: 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" [syn: {cryptic},
{cryptical}, {deep}, {inscrutable}, {mysterious},
{mystifying}]
2: having a secret or hidden meaning; "cabalistic symbols
engraved in stone"; "cryptic writings"; "thoroughly sibylline
in most of his pronouncements"- John Gunther [syn:
{cabalistic}, {kabbalistic}, {qabalistic}, {cryptic},
{cryptical}, {sibylline}]
3: having a puzzling terseness; "a cryptic note"
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