Word of the Day

: March 2, 2011

enigmatic

adjective en-ig-MAT-ik

What It Means

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

enigmatic in Context

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

"Perhaps the most enigmatic feature of the heart-shaped cherimoya is its evocative green, scaled armor-like exterior: Is it an artichoke? Dinosaur egg? Armadillo? Grenade? A fabric swatch from Karl Lagerfeld's spring collection?" -- From an article by Kelly Rae Hickman in the San Francisco Chronicle, January 30, 2011

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" (which traces back to Greek "ainissesthai," meaning "to speak in riddles") 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.