different between cryptic vs clandestine

English

Alternative forms

• cryptick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Late Latin crypticus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (kruptikós), from ??????? (kruptós, “hidden”), from ?????? (krúpt?, “to hide”). Compare cryptology.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k??pt?k/

Adjective

cryptic (comparative more cryptic, superlative most cryptic)

1. Having hidden meaning.
2. Mystified or of an obscure nature.
3. Involving use of a code or cipher.
4. Of a crossword, or a clue in such a crossword, using, in addition to definitions, wordplay such as anagrams, homophones and hidden words to indicate solutions.
5. (zoology) Well camouflaged; having good camouflage.

6. (zoology) Serving as camouflage.
7. (biology, not comparable) Apparently identical, but actually genetically distinct.

8. (zoology) Living in a cavity or small cave.

   Synonym: (less common) cryptozoic

   • 1999, Rachel Wood, Reef Evolution, p. 95:

     Much of the Permian Capitan reef was strongly differentiated into open surface and cryptic communities.

Translations

Noun

cryptic (plural cryptics)

1. (informal) A cryptic crossword.
   • 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

English

Etymology

From Latin clandest?nus (“secret, concealed”); compare French clandestin.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: clan?des?tine
• IPA^(key): /klæn?d?st?n/, /?klænd?st(a)?n/, /?klænd?st(a)?n/
• Rhymes: -?st?n

Adjective

clandestine (comparative more clandestine, superlative most clandestine)

1. Done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an illicit or improper purpose.

   Synonyms: covert, furtive, hush-hush, secret, secretive, undercover; see also Thesaurus:covert

   • 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.

2. (freemasonry, of a person or lodge) Not recognized as a regular member.

Derived terms

• clandestinely
• clandestineness

Translations

French

Adjective

clandestine

1. feminine singular of clandestin

Italian

Adjective

clandestine

1. feminine plural of clandestino

Noun

clandestine f pl

1. feminine plural of clandestino

Latin

Adjective

cland?st?ne

1. vocative masculine singular of cland?st?nus