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Cryptic vs Clandestine - What's the difference?

cryptic | clandestine | Related terms |

Cryptic is a related term of clandestine.


As adjectives the difference between cryptic and clandestine

is that cryptic is having hidden meaning while clandestine is done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an illicit or improper purpose.

As a noun cryptic

is (informal) a cryptic crossword.

cryptic

Alternative forms

* cryptick (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having hidden meaning.
  • Mystified or of an obscure nature.
  • * Glanvill
  • Her [nature's] more cryptic ways of working.
  • Involving use of code or cipher/cypher.
  • (zoology) Well camouflaged; having good camouflage.
  • Lonomia caterpillars are extremely cryptic .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (informal) A cryptic crossword.
  • * 1996 , Mary McCarthy, Remember Me (page 85)
  • He settled down to the cryptic in the Independent . He loved his crossword. It kept him mentally active, just as gossip did his wife.
  • * 2009 , Bill Taylor, Building a crossword'' (in ''Toronto Star , 1 February 2009)
  • This writer has been solving cryptics for 40 years and can usually crack Araucaria, though it might take a couple of days.

    Derived terms

    * cryptically * cryptogram

    clandestine

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an illicit or improper purpose.
  • *
  • *
  • *
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  • * 2004 — (Penny Arcade)
  • In my imagination, all work place encounters between men and women result in clandestine sex.
  • * 2005 — (Stewart Lee), 90's Comedian DVD''
  • And I don't want anyone to think I dislike Catholicism because I don't. It's actually my favourite form of clandestine global evil.
  • (freemasonry, of a person or lodge) Not recognized as a regular member.
  • Synonyms

    * (done in secret) covert, furtive, hush-hush, secret, secretive, undercover * See also