What Does cryptic Mean
Before entering fully into the meaning of the cryptic term, we are going to proceed to know its etymological origin. In this case, we can state that it comes from Latin, exactly from “crypticus”, which can be translated as “underground”. That word that, in turn, emanates from the Greek, from "kritikós", which is synonymous with "related to a crypt" or "what is hidden under a thing".
The first meaning of the cryptic term mentioned in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) refers to what is linked to cryptography : the technique that consists of writing a message using a secret key.
The cryptic, therefore, is enigmatic, mysterious or unintelligible . For example : "The police found a cryptic note in the home of the missing woman" , "The company issued a cryptic statement announcing that there will be news on the matter soon" , "It is a cryptic essay, difficult to read . "
Suppose a person makes the following message known: "In a short time, the Illustrious Knight will break in at dawn and everything will change . " The content of the note can be described as cryptic since it is not clear what it refers to: How much is "little time" ? Who is the Illustrious Knight ? What is it that will "change" ? Cryptic messages like this often have multiple interpretations.
Take the case of a footballer who, upon leaving his club, tells the press that there is "a very important reason" for leaving the institution, but that he will only say so "at the right time . " These statements may be identified as cryptic as they do not provide information specific or specific.
In the field of zoology and botany, the cryptic adjective refers to what allows a species to camouflage itself by its color or aroma: "The cryptic coat of the hare helps it hide from its predators . "
Within the scope of biology, we also have to know that the term at hand is used. Specifically, this sector refers to what is known as a cryptic species complex.
What this expression comes to mention is a group of species that have the peculiarity that they are isolated from other species at the reproductive level.
In the same way, there are also the so-called cryptic species, also called twins. They are characterized because they are very similar in the morphological aspect, both in physiognomy and in morphology or behavior, but they are reproductively isolated. So much so that it is considered necessary to proceed to analyze them at a genetic level to be able to know if they are the same species or if, on the contrary, they belong to different species.
That term must be stated that it has its origin in the twentieth century. Specifically, it was in 1942 when Ernst Mayr presented it within the scope of scientific literature after having translated it from other languages, such as French.