(n)a canon in which the entrances of successive parts were indicated by cryptic symbols and devices (popular in the 15th and 16th centuries), Syn.enigmatic canon, enigmatical canon, riddle canon
{ } a. [ Cf. F. énigmatique. ] Relating to or resembling an enigma; not easily explained or accounted for; darkly expressed; not clear to the understanding; obscure; puzzling; as, an enigmatical answer; I didn't grasp the meaning of that enigmatical comment until much later; prophetic texts so enigmatical that their meaning has been disputed for centuries. Syn. -- dark, obscure, puzzling. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]