CIPHER

cipher, cypher

(noun) a message written in a secret code

cipher, cypher, cryptograph, secret code

(noun) a secret method of writing

cipher, cypher, nobody, nonentity

(noun) a person of no influence

nothing, nil, nix, nada, null, aught, cipher, cypher, goose egg, naught, zero, zilch, zip, zippo

(noun) 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”

zero, nought, cipher, cypher

(noun) a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number

calculate, cipher, cypher, compute, work out, reckon, figure

(verb) make a mathematical calculation or computation

code, encipher, cipher, cypher, encrypt, inscribe, write in code

(verb) convert ordinary language into code; “We should encode the message for security reasons”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Noun

cipher (plural ciphers)

A numeric character.

Any text character.

A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram.

A method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning.

(cryptography) A cryptographic system using an algorithm that converts letters or sequences of bits into ciphertext.

Ciphertext; a message concealed via a cipher.

A grouping of three digits in a number, especially when delimited by commas or periods

(music) A fault in an organ valve which causes a pipe to sound continuously without the key having been pressed.

A hip-hop jam session.

The path (usually circular) shared cannabis takes through a group, an occasion of cannabis smoking.

Someone or something of no importance.

(dated) Zero.

Synonyms

• (numeric character): number, numeral

• (method for concealing the meaning of text): code

• (cryptographic system using an algorithm)

• (ciphertext)

• (a grouping of three digits in a number, especially when delimited)

• (design of interlacing initials): monogram

• (fault in an organ valve causing a pipe to sound continuously)

• (hip-hop jam session)

• (path that shared cannabis takes through a group)

• (someone or something of no importance): (person): nobody, nonentity, see also nonentity; (thing) nonentity, nothing, nullity

• (obsolete: zero): naught/nought, nothing, oh, zero

Verb

cipher (third-person singular simple present ciphers, present participle ciphering, simple past and past participle ciphered)

(intransitive, regional, dated) To calculate.

(intransitive) To write in code or cipher.

(intransitive, music) Of an organ pipe: to sound independent of the organ.

(obsolete) To decipher.

Anagrams

• ceriph, rechip

Source: Wiktionary

---

Ci"pher, n. Etym: [OF. cifre zero, F. Chiffre figure (cf. Sp.cifra, LL. cifra), fr. Ar. çifrun, çafrun, empty, cipher, zero, fr. çafira to be empty. Cf. Zero.]

1. (Arith.)

Definition: 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.

Ci"pher, a.

Definition: Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. "Twelve cipher bishops." Milton.

Ci"pher, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ciphered; p. pr. & vb. n. Ciphering.]

Definition: To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic. "T was certain he could write and cipher too. Goldsmith.

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---