English

Alternative forms

• cryptick (obsolete)

Adjective

cryptic ‎(comparative more cryptic, superlative most cryptic)

1. Having hidden meaning.
2. Mystified or of an obscure nature.
   • Glanvill

     Her [nature's] more cryptic ways of working.

3. Involving use of code or cipher/cypher.
4. (zoology) Well camouflaged; having good camouflage.

   Lonomia caterpillars are extremely cryptic.

Translations

Noun

cryptic ‎(plural cryptics)

1. (informal) A cryptic crossword.
   • 1996, Mary McCarthy, Remember Me (page 85)

     He settled down to the cryptic in the Independent. He loved his crossword. It kept him mentally active, just as gossip did his wife.

   • 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.

Derived terms

• cryptically
• cryptogram