enigmatic
en·ig·mat·ic (
n
g-m
t
k) or en·ig·mat·i·cal (--k
l)
adj.
Of or resembling an enigma; puzzling: a professor’s enigmatic grading system. See Synonyms at ambiguous.
[Greek ainigmatikos, from ainigma, ainigmat-, riddle; see enigma.]
enig·mati·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
| Adj. | 1. | enigmatic – not clear to the understanding; “I didn’t grasp the meaning of that enigmatic comment until much later”; “prophetic texts so enigmatic that their meaning has been disputed for centuries”
uncomprehensible, incomprehensible – difficult to understand; “the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible”- A. Einstein
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| 2. | enigmatic – resembling an oracle in obscurity of thought; “the oracular sayings of Victorian poets”; “so enigmatic that priests might have to clarify it”; “an enigmatic smile”
ambiguous – having more than one possible meaning; “ambiguous words”; “frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy”
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Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
