cryptomorphic

Meanings

1. Two objects, especially systems of axioms or semantics for them, are called cryptomorphic if they are equivalent (possibly in some informal sense) but not obviously equivalent.
2. Having a form that obscures or masks the underlying meaning or purpose.
3. Having a cryptic structure in which the ultimate active product is carried by the precursorial protein rather than the protein actually encoded by the gene.
4. Found or occurring below the soil layer.
5. Composed of minerals that are not expressed in their crystalline form.

Etymology

Coined by Garrett Birkhoff before 1967, for use in the third edition of his book Lattice Theory.