Related Searches
on Ask.com
Nearby Entries


cypher - 5 dictionary results
ci⋅pher
[sahy-fer]
–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
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.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To cypher
ci·pher also cy·pher (sī'fər) n.
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.] |
cy·pher (sī'fər) n. & v. Variant of cipher. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cypher
Cy"pher\ (s?"f?r), n. & v. See Cipher.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
>