kryptisch
cryptic
Mysterious or puzzling and therefore difficult to understand or interpret.
EXAMPLE
Seine kryptische Antwort ließ viele Fragen offen.
His cryptic answer left many questions unanswered.
kryptisch
cryptic
kryptisch – kryptischer – am kryptischsten
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Meanings
kryptisch
encoded
Encrypted or written in a form that only certain people can understand.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachricht war kryptisch formuliert und ohne den Schlüssel nicht zu lesen.
The message was encoded and could not be read without the key.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry kryptisch, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | kryptisch |
|---|---|
| comparative | kryptischer |
| superlative | am kryptischsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to kryptisch.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to kryptisch.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to kryptisch.
Usage tips
Context clues
When used about answers or remarks, 'kryptisch' (cryptic) often describes their effect on listeners without implying any actual encryption. Words such as 'Schlüssel' (key), 'Code' (code), or 'entschlüsseln' (to decrypt), on the other hand, can indicate an actually encrypted message.
EXAMPLE
Seine kryptische Bemerkung zum geplanten Umzug sorgte bei uns für Verwirrung.
His cryptic remark about the planned move left us confused.
Die kryptische Zeichenfolge ließ sich erst mit dem passenden Schlüssel entschlüsseln.
The encoded string of characters could only be decrypted with the correct key.
Typical collocations
Common combinations include 'eine kryptische Antwort' (a cryptic answer), 'eine kryptische Bemerkung' (a cryptic remark), and 'eine kryptische Andeutung' (a cryptic hint). These can be used to comment on statements that leave readers or listeners with unanswered questions.
EXAMPLE
Auf die Frage nach ihrer Zukunft machte sie nur eine kryptische Andeutung.
When asked about her future, she gave only a cryptic hint.
Reflexive construction
The expression 'sich kryptisch ausdrücken' (to express oneself cryptically) describes the way someone speaks or writes. The reflexive pronoun belongs to 'sich ausdrücken' (to express oneself) and changes according to the subject.
EXAMPLE
Du drückst dich heute sehr kryptisch aus; kannst du deinen Plan genauer erklären?
You're expressing yourself very cryptically today; can you explain your plan more clearly?
In real life
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