enigmatic

[Greek ainigmatikos, from ainigma, ainigmat-, riddle. See enigma.]

Now we know who he is, but what's he all about? President Bush's choice as replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is:

"John G. Roberts, a federal appeals court judge with a distinguished résumé and a conservative but enigmatic record..."

Link: In Pursuit of Conservative Stamp, President Nominates Roberts

Posted July 21, 2005.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

adjective

Difficult to explain or understand: arcane, cabalistic, cryptic, mysterious, mystic, mystical, mystifying, occult, puzzling. See explain/baffle, knowledge/ignorance.

The adjective has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: not clear to the understanding
  Synonyms: enigmatical, puzzling

Meaning #2: resembling an oracle in obscurity of thought
  Synonym: oracular