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8 dictionary results for: cipher
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ci·pher 
[sahy-fer] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[sahy-fer] Pronunciation Key –noun
–verb (used without object)
–verb (used with object)
| 1. | zero. |
| 2. | any of the Arabic numerals or figures. |
| 3. | Arabic numerical notation collectively. |
| 4. | something of no value or importance. |
| 5. | a person of no influence; nonentity. |
| 6. | a secret method of writing, as by transposition or substitution of letters, specially formed symbols, or the like. Compare cryptography. |
| 7. | writing done by such a method; a coded message. |
| 8. | the key to a secret method of writing. |
| 9. | a combination of letters, as the initials of a name, in one design; monogram. |
| 10. | to use figures or numerals arithmetically. |
| 11. | to write in or as in cipher. |
| 12. | to calculate numerically; figure. |
| 13. | to convert into cipher. |
Also, especially British, cypher.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME siphre < ML ciphra < Ar ṣifr empty, zero; trans. of Skt śūnyā empty]
] —Related forms
ci·pher·a·ble, adjective
ci·pher·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| ci·pher also cy·pher
(sī'fər) Pronunciation Key
n.
v. ci·phered also cy·phered, ci·pher·ing also cy·pher·ing, ci·phers also cy·phers v. intr. To solve problems in arithmetic; calculate. See Synonyms at calculate. v. tr.
[Middle English cifre, from Old French, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr, from ṣafira, to be empty (translation of Sanskrit śūnyam, cipher, dot); see ṣpr1 in Semitic roots.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
cipher
cipher
1399, from M.L. cifra, from Arabic sifr "zero," lit. "empty, nothing," from safara "to be empty," loan-transl. of Skt. sunya-s "empty." Came to Europe with Arabic numerals. Original meaning "zero," then "any numeral," then (first in Fr. and It.) "coded message" (first attested in Eng. 1528), since early codes often substituted numbers for letters. The verb meaning "to do arithmetic (with Arabic numerals) first attested 1530.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| cipher | |
noun | |
| 1. | a message written in a secret code |
| 2. | a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number [syn: zero] |
| 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" |
| 4. | a person of no influence |
| 5. | a secret method of writing |
verb | |
| 1. | convert ordinary language into code; "We should encode the message for security reasons" [syn: code] |
| 2. | make a mathematical calculation or computation [syn: calculate] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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 Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Cipher
Ci"pher\, a. Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. "Twelve cipher bishops." --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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 Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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 Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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