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decipher - 4 dictionary results

de⋅ci⋅pher

  [di-sahy-fer]
Use decipher in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to make out the meaning of (poor or partially obliterated writing, etc.): to decipher a hastily scribbled note.
2. to discover the meaning of (anything obscure or difficult to trace or understand): to decipher hieroglyphics.
3. to interpret by the use of a key, as something written in cipher: to decipher a secret message.
4. Obsolete. to depict; portray.
Origin:
1520–30; trans. of MF déchiffrer. See de-, cipher

Related forms:
de⋅ci⋅pher⋅a⋅ble, adjective
de⋅ci⋅pher⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
de⋅ci⋅pher⋅er, noun
de⋅ci⋅pher⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
2. comprehend, solve, unravel, explain.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To decipher
de·ci·pher   (dĭ-sī'fər)   
tr.v.   de·ci·phered, de·ci·pher·ing, de·ci·phers
  1. To read or interpret (ambiguous, obscure, or illegible matter). See Synonyms at solve.
  2. To convert from a code or cipher to plain text; decode.
de·ci'pher·a·ble adj., de·ci'pher·er n., de·ci'pher·ment n.
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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Decipher

De*ci"pher\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deciphered; p. pr. & vb. n. Deciphering.] [Pref. de- + cipher. Formed in imitation of F. d['e]chiffrer. See Cipher.]

1. To translate from secret characters or ciphers into intelligible terms; as, to decipher a letter written in secret characters.

2. To find out, so as to be able to make known the meaning of; to make out or read, as words badly written or partly obliterated; to detect; to reveal; to unfold.

3. To stamp; to detect; to discover. [R.]

You are both deciphered, . . . For villains. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : decipher
Spanish: descifrar,
German: dechiffrieren,
Japanese: 解読する
More Translations »

decipher 
1528, from de- + cipher.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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