cipher

Definitions

1. 1.One who, or that which, has no weight or influence. Here he was a mere cipher. W. Irving.
2. 2.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.
3. 3.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.
4. 4.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.
5. 5.Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. "Twelve cipher bishops." Milton.
6. 6.To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic. "T was certain he could write and cipher too. Goldsmith.
7. 7.To write in occult characters. His notes he ciphered with Greek characters. Hayward.
8. 8.To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer.
9. 9.To decipher. [Obs.] Shak.
10. 10.To designate by characters. [Obs.] Shak.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "cipher" mean?
• What is another word for "cipher"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is cipher.

• What is one who, or that which, has no weight or influence. Here he was a mere cipher. W. Irving called?
• What is 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 called?
• What is 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 called?
• What is of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. "Twelve cipher bishops." Milton called?
• What is to use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic. "T was certain he could write and cipher too. Goldsmith called?
• What is to write in occult characters. His notes he ciphered with Greek characters. Hayward called?
• What is to get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer called?
• What is to designate by characters. [Obs.] Shak called?