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cipher

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ci⋅pher

  [sahy-fer]
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–noun
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.
–verb (used without object)
10. to use figures or numerals arithmetically.
11. to write in or as in cipher.
–verb (used with object)
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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ci·pher also cy·pher   (sī'fər)   
n.  

  1. The mathematical symbol (0) denoting absence of quantity; zero.

  2. An Arabic numeral or figure; a number.

  3. One having no influence or value; a nonentity.

    1. A cryptographic system in which units of plain text of regular length, usually letters, are arbitrarily transposed or substituted according to a predetermined code.

    2. The key to such a system.

    3. A message written or transmitted in such a system.

  5. A design combining or interweaving letters or initials; a monogram.

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.

  1. To put in secret writing; encode.

  2. To solve by means of arithmetic.


[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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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
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Encyclopedia

cipher

any method of transforming a message to conceal its meaning. The term is also used synonymously with ciphertext or cryptogram in reference to the encrypted form of the message. A brief treatment of ciphers follows. For full treatment, see cryptology.

Learn more about cipher with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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