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hermético

hermetic

adjective ehr-MEH-tee-koh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: From Medieval Latin hermeticus, referring to Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary alchemist.

Also means

airtight

Usage Note

Hermético literally means airtight or sealed (un recipiente hermético), but figuratively describes a person who is secretive and impenetrable, or writing that is deliberately obscure. The adverb is herméticamente. The figurative sense ('sealed off from the world') is very common in literary criticism.

Examples

"Era un hombre hermético que nunca hablaba de sí mismo."

Natural Translation

He was a secretive man who never spoke about himself.

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