a subterraneous cell or vault, especially under a church, for the interment of particular families or persons. S. Ciampini, describing the outside of the Vatican, speaks of the cryptae of St Andrew, St Paul, &c. The word is formed of κρύπτω, abscondo, "I hide;" whence κρύπτης, crypta.

Vitruvius uses the word crypta for a part of a building, answering nearly to our cellar; Juvenal for a cloaca. Hence crypto-porticus, a subterraneous place arched or vaulted, used as an under-work or passage in old walls. The same is also used for the decoration at the entry of a grotto.

CRYPTA is also used by some of our ancient writers for a chapel or oratory under ground.

in Anatomy, a name given by Ruysch to glands situated on the back of the tongue, and to glands of the intestines.