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Literary notes about Cryptic (AI summary)

In literature, the term "cryptic" is often employed to evoke an air of mystery and ambiguity, enriching a narrative with hidden meanings or elusive messages. It can denote anything from a puzzling note that sets a covert mission in motion [1] to a seemingly ordinary remark that nonetheless conceals deeper intent [2]. Authors use the adjective to describe fleeting expressions—a smile or a glance—that hint at unspoken emotions or secret knowledge [3], [4]. In dialogue, a cryptic comment might leave other characters and readers alike searching for a hidden significance, as well as adding an element of suspense to the unfolding story [5], [6]. Moreover, the term serves to characterize both verbal exchanges and physical objects, imbuing them with an enigmatic quality that challenges straightforward interpretation [7], [8]. Such usage not only enhances the layers of meaning in a text but also invites readers to engage in an active decoding of symbols and messages interwoven into the narrative texture.
  1. The end of the council was a cryptic note in the hand of Jackson, the chauffeur, and orders to bring back the addressee at any cost.
    — from Joy in the Morning by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews
  2. "I thought I was going to fail, but I stuck to my guns, and it came off," was the modest if rather cryptic reply.
    — from One Wonderful Night: A Romance of New York by Louis Tracy
  3. But it was that cryptic kind of a smile once more.
    — from Nothing But the Truth by Frederic Stewart Isham
  4. There was something cryptic about Helen Northrup when she was seeking to help her son.
    — from At the Crossroads by Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa) Comstock
  5. Was it not within the bounds of reason to assume that this cryptic message revealed the hiding place of the treasure?
    — from Kastle Krags: A Story of Mystery by Absalom Martin
  6. Observe—" he tapped the skin with a finger—"this cryptic skin contains the secret of Fire Mountain.
    — from Fire MountainA Thrilling Sea Story by Norman Springer
  7. Fat men are not always the best drivers of fat oxen; and cryptic statues cannot be depended on to see cryptic jokes.
    — from And Even Now by Beerbohm, Max, Sir
  8. "What a cryptic remark!" said Kingsley laughing, yet a little chagrined.
    — from Donovan Pasha, and Some People of Egypt — Volume 3 by Gilbert Parker

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