Hypertext Webster Gateway: "cipher"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

``T was certain he could write and cipher too.
--Goldsmith.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

His notes he ciphered with Greek characters.
--Hayward.

2. To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer.

3. To decipher. [Obs.] --Shak.

4. To designate by characters. [Obs.] --Shak.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

2. One who, or that which, has no weight or influence.

Here he was a mere cipher. --W. Irving.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

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