Adjacent Words

Cipher definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CIPHER, n.
1. In arithmetic, an Arabian or Oriental character, of this form 0, which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but increases or diminishes the value of other figures, according to its position. In whole numbers, when placed at the right hand of a figure, it increases its value ten fold; but in decimal fractions, placed at the left hand of a figure, it diminishes the value of that figure ten fold.
2. A character in general.
3. An intertexture of letters, as the initials of a name, engraved on a seal, box, plate, coach or tomb; a device; an enigmatical character. Anciently, merchants and tradesmen, not being permitted to bear family arms, bore, in lieu of them, their cyphers, or initials of their names, artfully interwoven about a cross.
4. A secret or disguised manner of writing; certain characters arbitrarily invented and agreed on by two or more persons, to stand for letters or words, and understood only by the persons who invent, or agree to use them. This is a mode of communicating information by letters, in time of war, with a view to conceal facts from an enemy, in case the letters should be intercepted. This art has given rise to another art, that of decyphering; and hence cipher is used for a key to unravel the characters. To have, or to learn a cipher, is to be able to interpret it.
CIPHER, v.i. In popular language, to use figures, or to practice arithmetic.
CIPHER, v.t.
1. To write in occult characters.
2. To designate; to characterize.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a message written in a secret code [syn: cipher, cypher]
2: a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number [syn: zero, 0, nought, cipher, cypher]
3: a quantity of no importance; "it looked like nothing I had ever seen before"; "reduced to nil all the work we had done"; "we racked up a pathetic goose egg"; "it was all for naught"; "I didn't hear zilch about it" [syn: nothing, nil, nix, nada, null, aught, cipher, cypher, goose egg, naught, zero, zilch, zip, zippo]
4: a person of no influence [syn: cipher, cypher, nobody, nonentity]
5: a secret method of writing [syn: cipher, cypher, cryptograph, secret code] v
1: convert ordinary language into code; "We should encode the message for security reasons" [syn: code, encipher, cipher, cypher, encrypt, inscribe, write in code]
2: make a mathematical calculation or computation [syn: calculate, cipher, cypher, compute, work out, reckon, figure]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ?ifr empty, cipher, zero Date: 14th century 1. a. zero 1a b. one that has no weight, worth, or influence ; nonentity 2. a. a method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning — compare code 3b b. a message in code 3. Arabic numeral 4. a combination of symbolic letters; especially the interwoven initials of a name II. verb (ciphered; ciphering) Date: circa 1530 intransitive verb to use figures in a mathematical process transitive verb 1. encipher 2. to compute arithmetically

U.S. Military Dictionary

Any cryptographic system in which arbitrary symbols (or groups of symbols) represent units of plain text of regular length, usually single letters; units of plain text are rearranged; or both, in accordance with certain predetermined rules. See also cryptosystem.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. (also cypher) --n. 1 a a secret or disguised way of writing. b a thing written in this way. c the key to it. 2 the arithmetical symbol (0) denoting no amount but used to occupy a vacant place in decimal etc. numeration (as in 12.05). 3 a person or thing of no importance. 4 the interlaced initials of a person or company etc.; a monogram. 5 any Arabic numeral. 6 continuous sounding of an organ-pipe, caused by a mechanical defect. --v. 1 tr. put into secret writing, encipher. 2 a tr. (usu. foll. by out) work out by arithmetic, calculate. b intr. archaic do arithmetic. Etymology: ME, f. OF cif(f)re, ult. f. Arab sifr ZERO

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Cipher Ci"pher, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ciphered; p. pr. & vb. n. Ciphering.] To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic. ``T was certain he could write and cipher too. --Goldsmith.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Cipher Ci"pher, v. t. 1. To write in occult characters. His notes he ciphered with Greek characters. --Hayward. 2. To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer. 3. To decipher. [Obs.] --Shak. 4. To designate by characters. [Obs.] --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Cipher Ci"pher, n. [OF. cifre zero, F. Chiffre figure (cf. Sp. cifra, LL. cifra), fr. Ar. [,c]ifrun, [,c]afrun, empty, cipher, zero, fr. [,c]afira to be empty. Cf. Zero.] 1. (Arith.) A character [0] which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its value tenfold. 2. One who, or that which, has no weight or influence. Here he was a mere cipher. --W. Irving. 3. A character in general, as a figure or letter. [Obs.] This wisdom began to be written in ciphers and characters and letters bearing the forms of creatures. --Sir W. Raleigh. 4. A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram; as, a painter's cipher, an engraver's cipher, etc. The cut represents the initials N. W. 5. A private alphabet, system of characters, or other mode of writing, contrived for the safe transmission of secrets; also, a writing in such characters. His father . . . engaged him when he was very young to write all his letters to England in cipher. --Bp. Burnet. Cipher key, a key to assist in reading writings in cipher.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Cipher Ci"pher, a. Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. ``Twelve cipher bishops.'' --Milton.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

also cypher(ciphers) A cipher is a secret system of writing that you use to send messages. ...converting their messages into ciphers. = code N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Zero, naught or nought, nothing. 2. Character, symbol, device, monogram. 3. Secret character, private alphabet. 4. Person of no account, nobody, person without influence. II. v. n. Practise arithmetic, use figures.

Moby Thesaurus

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