ci´pher|a|ble

ci´pher|a|ble: ci|pher «SY fuhr», noun, verb.

–n.

1. secret writing or code. A cipher transposes the letters of a message according to a set pattern, or replaces the proper letters with substitutes called for in the system used, or combines both methods. »Part of the spy's letter is in cipher.
SYNONYM(S): cryptograph.

2. something in secret writing or code: »Washington received many ciphers from his spies.

3. the key to a method of secret writing or code: »Nobody could decode ancient Egyptian writing until a cipher was discovered.

4. zero; 0. SYNONYM(S): naught, nought, nil.

5. all Arabic numerals or any Arabic numeral; a number.

6. Figurative. a person or thing of no importance; nonentity: »to the lady and lord rather—his lordship being little more than a cipher in the house (Thackeray). The impotent estate being reduced to a cipher is as if it had no existence (Henry Peter Brougham).
SYNONYM(S): nothing.

7. interlaced initials; monogram.

–v.i.

to do arithmetic; use figures to work arithmetical problems: »She can read, write and cipher.

–v.t.

1. a) to work by arithmetic; compute: »The manufacturer ciphered it with his eyes on the ceiling (Josiah G. Holland).
b) U.S.: Informal. to figure out; calculate; think: »She puzzles her brain to cipher out some scheme for getting it into my hands (Mark Twain).

2. to express by using characters of any kind, especially in secret writing or code: »He was employed…in ciphering and deciphering the letters (Samuel Johnson).
Also, cypher.

╂[< Medieval Latin ciphra < Arabic sifr empty. See etym. of doublet zero. (Cf. ↑zero)]

–ci´pher|a|ble, adjective.

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in|de|ci|pher|a|ble — «IHN dih SY fuhr uh buhl», adjective. that cannot be deciphered; illegible: »The coded message was indecipherable. –in´de|ci´pher|a|bly, adverb … Useful english dictionary
de|ci|pher|a|ble — «dih SY fuhr uh buhl», adjective. that can be deciphered: »The form which affairs in Europe may assume is not yet decipherable by those out of the cabinet (Thomas Jefferson) … Useful english dictionary
un|de|ci|pher|a|ble — «UHN dih SY fuhr uh buhl», adjective. = indecipherable. (Cf. ↑indecipherable) … Useful english dictionary
ci|pher — «SY fuhr», noun, verb. –n. 1. secret writing or code. A cipher transposes the letters of a message according to a set pattern, or replaces the proper letters with substitutes called for in the system used, or combines both methods. »Part of the… … Useful english dictionary
in´de|ci´pher|a|bly — in|de|ci|pher|a|ble «IHN dih SY fuhr uh buhl», adjective. that cannot be deciphered; illegible: »The coded message was indecipherable. –in´de|ci´pher|a|bly, adverb … Useful english dictionary
decipher — de•ci•pher [[t]dɪˈsaɪ fər[/t]] v. t. 1) to make out the meaning of (something obscure or difficult to read or understand): I couldn t decipher his handwriting[/ex] 2) crp to interpret by the use of a key, as something written in cipher: to… … From formal English to slang
cipher — ci•pher [[t]ˈsaɪ fər[/t]] n. 1) math. zero 2) math. any of the Arabic numerals or figures 3) a person or thing of no value or importance; nonentity 4) crp a) a secret method of writing, as by code b) writing done by such a method; a coded message … From formal English to slang
Indecipherable — In de*ci pher*a*ble, a. Not decipherable; incapable of being deciphered, explained, or solved. {In de*ci pher*a*bly}, adv. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Indecipherably — Indecipherable In de*ci pher*a*ble, a. Not decipherable; incapable of being deciphered, explained, or solved. {In de*ci pher*a*bly}, adv. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Decipherable — De*ci pher*a*ble, a. Capable of being deciphered; as, old writings not decipherable. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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ci´pher|a|ble

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ci´pher|a|ble

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