Delphic

Delphi +‎ -ic

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛlfɪk/

Delphic (comparative more Delphic, superlative most Delphic)

1. Of or relating to Delphi or its oracles.
2. Obscurely prophetic.
   • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 18:

     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.

   • 2010, Dexter Hoyos, The Carthaginians, Routledge, →ISBN, page 215:

     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.

   • 2017, Carl E. Walsh, Monetary Theory and Policy, 4th edition, MIT Press, page 33:

     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.

• Delphic maxims