cryptic

Meanings

Adjective

• Having hidden meaning.
• Mystified or of an obscure nature.
• Involving use of a code or cipher.
• Of a crossword, or a clue in such a crossword, using, in addition to definitions, wordplay such as anagrams, homophones and hidden words to indicate solutions.
• Well camouflaged; having good camouflage.
• Serving as camouflage.
• Apparently identical, but actually genetically distinct.
• Living in a cavity or small cave.

Noun

• A cryptic crossword.

Origin

• From Late Latin la, from Ancient Greek κρυπτικός, from κρυπτός, from κρύπτω. Compare cryptology.