English Explanatory Dictionary

decipher

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To convert a code or cipher to plain text.
  2. To read text that is almost illegible or obscure.
  3. To make sense of a complex situation.
  4. To find a solution to a problem.
noun
  1. A decipherment; a decoding.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈsaɪfə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-decipher.wav

Word forms

decipher deciphers deciphering deciphered decypher

Etymology

As decypher, but not retaining the y from the Old French etyma of cipher (cyfre, cyffre); the i spelling tends to be preferred etymologically, being consistent with its cognates, the French déchiffrer and the Italian decifrare, and with their common ancestor, the Medieval Latin cifra, cifera, ciphra. By surface analysis, de- + cipher.

Synonyms

decode decrypt uncode resolve unriddle work out absolve decipher get to the bottom of iron out meliorate puzzle out ravel reason out riddle sleuth solve tease out think out unpuzzle unravel unsolve upsolve Any from Thesaurus:untangle

Antonyms

encipher encode encrypt

Derived words

decipherability decipherable decipheration decipherer decipheress decipherment indecipherability indecipherable misdecipher redecipher undecipher undecipherable undeciphered
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on D Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary