Word of the Day

: October 25, 2012

enigmatic

adjective en-ig-MAT-ik

What It Means

: of, relating to, or resembling an enigma : mysterious

enigmatic in Context

When Rolf asked her where she had been, Tianna just gave him an enigmatic smile and answered, "Oh, here and there."

"Chris Marker, who died earlier this year at 91, was an enigmatic figure, reluctant to be photographed and prone to biographical embellishment." - From an article by A.O. Scott in the New York Times, September 26, 2012

Did You Know?

When it comes to things that aren't clearly understandable, you have a wide range of word choices, including "dark," "enigmatic," "cryptic," and "equivocal." Of these, "dark" is the most sinister, implying an imperfect or clouded revelation, often with ominous overtones. "Enigmatic" emphasizes a puzzling, mystifying quality, whereas "cryptic" implies a purposely concealed meaning. "Equivocal" is the best choice for language that is left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.