cipher — a secret or disguised way of writing; a code
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a secret or disguised way of writing; a code
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsaɪfər/
Example Sentences
- The detective spent hours trying to decipher the villain's cryptic cipher.
- My handwriting is so bad, it looks like an ancient cipher that even I can't read.
- In the meeting, he felt like a cipher - completely invisible and unimportant.
cipher
NOUN[/ˈsaɪfər/]
a secret or disguised way of writing; a code
The spy decodes the secret cipher hidden in the old letter.
Decipher the cipher, beware the viper!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French 'chiffre', which came from Arabic 'ṣifr' meaning 'zero' or 'empty'. The word evolved to mean a numerical digit, then a secret code or disguised writing system.
Breakdown
cipher (from Arabic ṣifr 'zero/empty') → French chiffre → English cipher; no productive morphemes in English form, though related to 'decipher' (de- + cipher)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The detective spent hours trying to decipher the villain's cryptic cipher.”
“My handwriting is so bad, it looks like an ancient cipher that even I can't read.”
“In the meeting, he felt like a cipher - completely invisible and unimportant.”
“The love letter was written in cipher so her parents couldn't understand it.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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