enigma ******************************************************************************** 1. a. A short composition in prose or verse, in which something is described by intentionally obscure metaphors, in order to afford an exercise for the ingenuity of the reader or hearer in guessing what is meant; a riddle. {dag}b. In wider sense: An obscure or allusive speech; a parable (obs. exc. as transf. from 1a). 2. fig. Something as puzzling as an enigma; an unsolved problem.