n. [ OF. cifre zero, F. Chiffre figure (cf. Sp.cifra, LL. cifra), fr. Ar. çifrun, çafrun, empty, cipher, zero, fr. çafira to be empty. Cf. Zero. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Arith.) A character [ 0 ] which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its value tenfold. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who, or that which, has no weight or influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here he was a mere cipher. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A character in general, as a figure or letter. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This wisdom began to be written in ciphers and characters and letters bearing the forms of creatures. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

His father . . . engaged him when he was very young to write all his letters to England in cipher. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cipher key, a key to assist in reading writings in cipher. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. “Twelve cipher bishops.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Ciphered p. pr. & vb. n. Ciphering. ] To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T was certain he could write and cipher too. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To write in occult characters. [ 1913 Webster ]

His notes he ciphered with Greek characters. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To decipher. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To designate by characters. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who ciphers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Nothingness. [ R. ] Goodwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deciphered p. pr. & vb. n. Deciphering. ] [ Pref. de- + cipher. Formed in imitation of F. déchiffrer. See Cipher. ] 1. To translate from secret characters or ciphers into intelligible terms; as, to decipher a letter written in secret characters. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To stamp; to detect; to discover. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

You are both deciphered, . . .
For villains. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being deciphered; as, old writings not decipherable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who deciphers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who deciphers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of deciphering. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not decipherable; incapable of being deciphered, explained, or solved. -- In`de*ci"pher*a*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + cipher. ] To decipher; as, to uncipher a letter. [ Obs. ] Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

See abolishable.
See absolvable.
See absurd.
See abundant.
See accordant.
See adoptable.
See adventurous.
See affable.
See affectionate.
See afraid.
See alliable.
See allowable.
See alterable.
See ambiguous.
See ambitious.
See amendable.
See -American.
See amusive.
See angular.
See anxious.
See apocryphal.
See apostolic.
See apparent.
See appeasable.
See applausive.
See appreciable.
See apprehensible.
See apprehensive.
See approachable.
See artificial.
See artistic.
See assailable.
See attainable.
See attentive.
See authentic.
See available.
See bailable.
See bearable.
See beautiful.
See beliefful.
See believable.
See beneficial.
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See close.
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See clubbable.
See coagulable.
See cogitable.
See collectible.
See comic.
See commendable.
See commercial.
See communicable.
See communicative.
See compact.
See companionable.
See compassionate.
See compellable.
See competitive.
See complaisant.
See compliant. See complimentary.
See concealable.
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See conditionate.
See confinable.
See confutable.
See congealable.
See congenial.
See conjugal.
See conjunctive.
See conquerable.
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See containable.
See contaminate.
See contradictable.
See contrite.
See convenable.
See conventional.
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See conversant.
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See coquettish.
See cordial.
See corpulent.
See correspondent.
See corruptible.
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See costly.
See counselable.
See countable.
See counterfeit.
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See courtierlike.
See courtly.
See crafty.
See creatable.
See critical.
See crystalline.
See cultivable.
See curious.
See customary.
See dangerous.
See daughterly.
See dead.
See deceivable.
See decidable.
See decipherable.
See declinable.
See decomposable.
See definable.
See delectable.
See deliberate.
See delightful.
See deliverable.
See democratic.
See demonstrable.
See demonstrative.
See deniable.
See derogatory.
See descendible.
See describable.
See desirable.
See desirous.
See despondent.
See devout.
See diaphanous.
See diligent.
See diminishable.
See discernible.
See disciplinable.
See discordant.
See discoverable.
See dissolvable.
See distinguishable.
See dividable.
See divine.
See domestic.
See doubtful.
[ 1913 Webster ]