decipher

C2+ Topic:Communication

US /dɪˈsaɪfɚ/ UK /dɪˈsaɪfə/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to convert from code or obscure form into intelligible language

It took her hours to decipher his scrawled notes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to convert from code or... decodedecryptinterpret unravelunscrambletranslatework outconstrue

Opposites

encipherencodeencrypt

Word family

Derived forms deciphererdeciphermentdecipherable

Related forms cipher

Etymology

Formed in English from de- ('reverse') plus cipher, from Old French cifre ('zero, code'), from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr ('empty, zero').

de- Latin cifra Latin ṣifr Arabic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Word Formation & Derivatives

# decipher

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** dɪˈsaɪfɚ
**IPA (UK):** dɪˈsaɪfə

## Meanings
1. to convert from code or obscure form into intelligible language

## Examples
- It took her hours to decipher his scrawled notes.

## Synonyms
- decode
- decrypt
- interpret
- unravel
- unscramble
- translate
- work out
- construe

## Antonyms
- encipher
- encode
- encrypt

## Derived Forms
- decipherer
- decipherment
- decipherable

## Related Forms
- cipher

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: de-
- Root: cifra
- Root: ṣifr

## Etymology
Formed in English from de- ('reverse') plus cipher, from Old French cifre ('zero, code'), from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr ('empty, zero').

## AI Etymology
Decipher was formed in English from de- ('reverse') plus cipher, from Old French cifre ('zero, code'), from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr ('empty, zero'). The historical trail runs through Latin de-, Latin cifra and Arabic ṣifr. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means to convert from code or obscure form into intelligible language. Derived formations include decipherer, decipherment, decipherable; related forms include cipher.

## Topics
- Communication
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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decipher

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