(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
n.; pl.enigmas [ L. aenigma, Gr. a'i`nigma, fr. a'ini`ssesqai to speak darkly, fr. a'i^nos tale, fable. ] 1. A dark, obscure, or inexplicable saying; a riddle; a statement, the hidden meaning of which is to be discovered or guessed. [ 1913 Webster ]
A custom was among the ancients of proposing an enigma at festivals. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. An action, mode of action, or thing, which cannot be satisfactorily explained; a puzzle; as, his conduct is an enigma.
{ } 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 ]
[ぬえてき(鵺的;ぬえ的);ヌエてき(ヌエ的), nueteki ( nue teki ; nue teki ); nue teki ( nue teki )](adj-na) mysterious; strange; sphinx-like; enigmatic; noncommital[Add to Longdo]