Dictionary

Delphic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈdɛlfɪk/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree English Delphi Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English Delphic From Delphi + -ic.

Meanings

1. Of or relating to Delphi or its oracles.
   • As with the Delphic oracle of ancient Greece, physical impairment seemed compensated by almost supernatural gifts, which allowed his mind to roam the universe freely, upon occasion enigmatically revealing some of its secrets hidden from ordinary mortal view. 2018 March 14, Roger Penrose, “'Mind over matter': Stephen Hawking – obituary by Roger Penrose”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 20 Mar 2025:
2. Obscurely prophetic.
   • Carthage now sent two embassies to Rome, one after the other, essentially to ask forgiveness and avert war. The first was told enigmatically that it would depend on "if the Carthaginians give satisfaction to the Romans". The ensuing embassy received the still more delphic reply that "the Carthaginians knew very well" what this meant. 2010, Dexter Hoyos, The Carthaginians, Routledge, →ISBN, page 215:
   • Campbell et al. [&hellip] called the first effect Odyssian—the central bank is committing itself to keeping rates low in the future—and the second Delphic—the central bank is signaling a change in the outlook for the economy. 2017, Carl E. Walsh, Monetary Theory and Policy, 4th edition, MIT Press, page 33:
   • He telephoned airlines, government contacts and a whole host of pale, over-brushed acquaintances in the U.S. Consulate, who infuriated him with arch and Delphic answers. 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 18:

Forms

Deriveds

Delphic maxims

Translations (14)

pt délfico (of or relating to Delphi) · ru дельфи́йский (of or relating to Delphi) · gl délfico (of or relating to Delphi) · it delfico (of or relating to Delphi) · fi delfolainen (of or relating to Delphi) · de delphisch (of or relating to Delphi) · grc Δελφικός (of or relating to Delphi) · es délfico (of or relating to Delphi) · hu delphoi (of or relating to Delphi) · el δελφικός (of or relating to Delphi) · sv delfisk (of or relating to Delphi) · ca dèlfic (of or relating to Delphi) · pl delficki (of or relating to Delphi) · fr delphique (of or relating to Delphi)