n.; pl. enigmas [ L. aenigma, Gr. a'i`nigma, fr. a'ini`ssesqai to speak darkly, fr. a'i^nos tale, fable. ] 1. A dark, obscure, or inexplicable saying; a riddle; a statement, the hidden meaning of which is to be discovered or guessed. [ 1913 Webster ]

A custom was among the ancients of proposing an enigma at festivals. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An action, mode of action, or thing, which cannot be satisfactorily explained; a puzzle; as, his conduct is an enigma.

{ } a. [ Cf. F. énigmatique. ] Relating to or resembling an enigma; not easily explained or accounted for; darkly expressed; not clear to the understanding; obscure; puzzling; as, an enigmatical answer; I didn't grasp the meaning of that enigmatical comment until much later; prophetic texts so enigmatical that their meaning has been disputed for centuries.
Syn. -- dark, obscure, puzzling. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. Darkly; obscurely. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] One who makes, or talks in, enigmas. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Enigmatized p. pr. & vb. n. Enigmatizing ] To make, or talk in, enigmas; to deal in riddles.

{ } n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, an enigma + -graphy, -logy. ] The art of making or of solving enigmas. [ 1913 Webster ]