different between strenuous vs cryptic

English

Etymology

From Latin strenuus (“quick”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?st??nju?s/
• Hyphenation: stren?u?ous

Adjective

strenuous (comparative more strenuous, superlative most strenuous)

1. Having great vigour or energy; forceful.

   Synonyms: ardent, earnest, eager, energetic, determined, resolute, vigorous, zealous

2. (of a task) Requiring great exertion; very laborious
   • 1961: J. A. Philip. Mimesis in the Sophistês of Plato. In: Proceedings and Transactions of the American Philological Association 92. p. 467.

     We can achieve this god?likeness only by unremitting and strenuous effort of the intellect.

Derived terms

Related terms

• strenuity
• strenuosity

Translations

Further reading

• strenuous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• strenuous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• strenuous at OneLook Dictionary Search

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