decipherv.

Brit.

/dᵻˈsʌɪfə/, U.S.

/dəˈsaɪfər/,

/diˈsaɪfər/

Forms: 1500s deciffer, 1500s decyffre, 1500s descyfer, 1500s desypher, 1500s dischypher, 1500s discifar, 1500s discifur, 1500s discyfr- (inflected form), 1500s dissipher, 1500s dissiphr- (inflected form), 1500s dissiphre, 1500s–1600s decifer, 1500s–1600s decifr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s deciphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s decyfer, 1500s–1600s decyffer, 1500s–1600s decyphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s descipher, 1500s–1600s desciphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s descypher, 1500s–1600s descyphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s dicipher, 1500s–1600s discifer, 1500s–1600s discipher, 1500s–1600s disciphre, 1500s–1600s discypher, 1500s–1600s discyphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s dyscipher, 1500s– decipher, 1500s– decypher; also Scottish pre-1700 dischypher, pre-1700 dishiffer, pre-1700 disschyphre, pre-1700 dissiffer.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: de- prefix, cipher n.

Etymology: < de- prefix + cipher n. Compare Middle French, French déchiffrer, †deschiffrer (a1467, earliest in sense ‘to describe (something)’), Portuguese decifrar (1532 as †decyfrar), Italian decifrare (a1433 as †diciferare, earliest in sense ‘to work out or interpret (a communication in cipher)’; also †deciferare, †dicifrare), and also post-classical Latin deciphrare (1620 in a British source).With forms in des- , compare des- prefix; with forms in dis- , compare dis- prefix.

I. General senses relating to discovery or representation.

1. transitive. To detect or discern; (also) to find out, discover.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > find or discover [verb (transitive)] > a thing or person hidden

decipher1528

disclose1599

develop1653

1528 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. l. 104 To the intent we might the better discipher the very lett and sticking.

1574 J. Dee Let. 3 Oct. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 37 Yf by such a secret..Threasor hid may be decipherd in precise place.

a1605 R. Bannatyne Memorials Trans. Scotl. (1836) 166 Sir Nicolas Throgmorton,..be frequent conferences,..had dischypheret ther wickit intentioune.

1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina ii. 177 The poor fellow fearing that all was deciphered, and begging the King's privacy, he confessed ingenuously the progress of the whole matter.

1767 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy IX. xxiv. 93 The postillion delivered this with so much discretion and natural eloquence, that I could not help decyphering something in his face above his condition.

1837 R. A. Davenport Life of Ali Pasha xii. 300 A profound knowledge of the human heart..enables him correctly to decipher their respective talents, and to assign to them the offices most suited to their abilities.

1914 E. M. Dunne Mem. of Zi Pre' xxvi. 234 By the light of the moon he deciphered the outline of a burly night watch-man.

1991 P. Jekel Bayou 350 His nose deciphered a faint tang, a salt edge to the freshening breeze.

†2. transitive. To reveal, disclose; to make manifest or apparent the nature of (a person's character, etc.). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > manifestation > [verb (transitive)]

uppec897

atewOE

sutelec1000

openOE

awnc1175

kithec1175

forthteec1200

tawnec1220

let witc1275

forthshowa1300

to pilt out?a1300

showa1300

barea1325

mythc1330

unfoldc1374

to open outc1390

assign1398

mustera1400

reyve?a1400

vouchc1400

manifest?a1425

outshowc1425

ostendc1429

explayc1443

objecta1500

reveala1500

patefy?1509

decipher1529

relieve1533

to set outa1540

utter1542

report1548

unbuckle1548

to set forth1551

demonstrate1553

to hold forth1560

testify1560

explicate1565

forthsetc1565

to give show of1567

denudec1572

exhibit1573

apparent1577

display?1578

carry1580

cipher1583

laya1586

foreshow1590

uncloud?1594

vision1594

explain1597

proclaim1597

unroll1598

discloud1600

remonstrate1601

resent1602

to bring out1608

palesate1613

pronounce1615

to speak out1623

elicit1641

confess1646

bear1657

breathe1667

outplay1702

to throw out1741

evolve1744

announce1781

develop1806

exfoliate1808

evince1829

exposit1882

pack1925

society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]

unwryc825

unhelec1000

to draw forthc1175

unhillc1200

to bring forth?c1225

unsteekc1250

let witc1275

uncovera1300

wraya1300

knowc1300

barea1325

shrivec1374

unwrapc1374

again-covera1382

nakena1382

outc1390

tellc1390

disclosea1393

cough1393

unhidea1400

unclosec1400

unhaspc1400

bewrayc1405

reveal1409

accusea1413

reveil1424

unlocka1425

unrekec1425

disclude?1440

uncurec1440

utter1444

detect1447

break1463

expose1483

divinec1500

revelate1514

to bring (also put) to light1526

decipher1529

rake1547

rip1549

unshadow1550

to lay to sight1563

uppen1565

unlace1567

unvisor?1571

resign1572

uncloak1574

disshroud1577

spill1577

reap1578

unrip1579

scour1585

unharboura1586

unmask1586

uncase1587

descrya1591

unclasp?1592

unrive1592

discover1594

unburden1594

untomb1594

unhusk1596

dismask1598

to open upc1600

untruss1600

divulge1602

unshale1606

unbrace1607

unveil1609

rave1610

disveil1611

unface1611

unsecret1612

unvizard1620

to open up1624

uncurtain1628

unscreen1628

unbare1630

disenvelop1632

unclothe1632

to lay forth1633

unshroud1633

unmuffle1637

midwife1638

dissecret1640

unseal1640

unmantle1643

to fetch out1644

undisguise1655

disvelop1658

decorticate1660

clash1667

exert1692

disinter1711

to up with1715

unbundlea1739

develop1741

disembosom1745

to open out1814

to let out1833

unsack1846

uncrown1849

to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861

unfrock1866

disbosom1868

to blow the lid off1928

flush1950

surface1955

to take or pull the wraps off1964

1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxxvi^v Yf he wold now..beleue those .iii. or .iiii. noughty persons, agaynst those .iii. or .iiii. C. good and honest men: he then shuld well decypher hym self, and well declare therby, [etc.].

1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas sig. B 3 I haue a secret to disclose, a sorrowe to disciphre.

1625 A. Garden Characters & Ess. 35 Yet time decyphers these Deceivers all, When they debosh, and play Bankrupt, with all.

1657 G. Hutcheson Brief Expos. XII. Smal Prophets (ed. 2) (Micah iii. 7) 230/2 God will have false teachers seen in their own collours, and will decipher them to the world.

1793 T. Holcroft tr. J. C. Lavater Ess. Physiognomy (abridged ed.) xxxviii. 197 Each man has his favorite gesture which might decypher his whole character.

†3. transitive. To represent, esp. verbally or pictorially; to describe, depict, portray. Cf. cipher v. 3. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > narration > description or act of describing > describe [verb (transitive)]

sayOE

devisec1300

readc1300

to make (a) showing ofc1330

counterfeitc1369

expressc1386

scrievec1390

descrya1400

scrya1400

drawa1413

representc1425

describec1450

report1460

qualify?1465

exhibit1534

perscribe1538

to set out1545

deline1566

delineate1566

decipher1567

denotate1599

lineate16..

denote1612

givea1616

inform?1615

to shape out1633

speaka1637

display1726

to hit off1737

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > representation in art > represent in art [verb (transitive)]

workOE

shapea1375

express1382

marka1393

resemblea1393

portraya1398

devisea1400

makea1400

represent?a1425

counterfeitc1440

to set on write1486

porturea1500

emporturea1529

story1532

portrait1548

show1565

decipher1567

portraiture1581

to set forth1585

emblazea1592

stell1598

defigure1599

infigure1606

effigiate1608

deportract1611

deportray1611

rendera1616

image1624

configure1630

exiconize1641

effigies1652

to take off1680

mimic1770

paraphrase1961

1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 253^v He not liking to..heare the secrettes of his falte so plainely decipherede, replied accordynge to the discrecion of our wilfull youth now adaies.

a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 191 Thane begane he to dissipher the lyves of diverse Papes, and the lyves of all the scheavelynges for the most parte.

1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 1 Whether he were better with his art to discifer the life of the Nimpe Melia, or Cadmus encounter with the Dragon, or [etc.].

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 142 Those painters which could moste artificially decipher a Dog..were greatly reuerenced among the Egyptians.

1629 P. Massinger Roman Actor i. i. sig. B^v On the Stage Decipher to the life what honours waite On good, and glorious actions.

1715 J. Addison Spectator No. 613. ¶8 Deciphering them on a Carpet humbly begging Admittance.

1753 L. M. tr. J. Du Bosc Accomplish'd Woman I. 1 The fancied Loves which these romantic Tales decipher.

II. Senses relating to codes and writing, and derived uses.

a. transitive. To decode; to convert (what is written in cipher) into normal language; to work out or interpret (a communication in code). Cf. cipher n. 5a. Also occasionally intransitive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > code, cipher > decoding, deciphering > decipher [verb (transitive)]

decipher1529

uncipher1598

undecipher1764

decode1896

break1928

decrypt1936

1529 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. 7 Sept. (1933) 39 Bicause they [sc. letters from Rome] be moch in cifre, his Hignes desireth your Grace that they may be disciphred there and remitted hither again.

1552 R. Ascham Let. July in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 12 Your M^rship is wel ware in seeing our lettres fittly dissiphered, lest..a clear other mynd may appeare in reading, than was ment in writing.

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Qq1^v The vertues of them [sc. ciphers]..are..that they be impossible to discypher .

1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xix. 171 If then we can but arriue to decypher the first characters of the hidden Alphabet.

1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. x. 5 This following Letter was sent to him, by the Lord Jermin, in whose Cipher it was writ, and decipher'd by his Lordship.

1757 H. Newcastle Let. 8 Dec. in Mem. & Papers Sir A. Mitchell (1850) I. viii. 296 If..you should want to put any thing in cypher, pray do it, and I will get it decyphered at my Lord Holdernesse's office.

1821 N. Nicholas in Trans. Soc. Encouragement Arts, Manuf. & Commerce 39 107 The arrangement will be more complicated to those who might attempt to decipher a communication without possessing the key.

1839 G. P. R. James Louis XIV I. 9 The Queen was too closely watched to put the correspondence in cypher herself, or to decypher the answers she received.

1945 Life 26 Nov. 70/2 In composing the cipher, the sender starts with the first letter of the key word, the C... To decipher, the receiver simply reverses the process.

1983 Eng. Hist. Rev. 98 643 Bletchley Park housed the Government Code and Cypher School..of which the long highly-secret task was to decipher foreign—principally German—messages intercepted by various listening services.

1990 A. Adamthwaite in H. Sahmir France & Germany Age of Crisis, 1900–60 iv. 205 A small cypher section had to encipher and decipher by hand.

2002 R. F. ChurchHouse Codes & Ciphers xii. 166 Anyone who gets hold of the keys and knows the method of encryption can decipher their messages.

b. transitive. To interpret, translate, or transliterate (text from a foreign or unfamiliar language or alphabet). Also occasionally intransitive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > code, cipher > decoding, deciphering > decipher [verb (transitive)] > obscure or foreign writing

decipher1574

trace1768

1574 T. Newton in tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes Ep. sig. Aiiij In this litle Pamphlet, so clerkely and compendiously decyphered, I haue aduentured to deuest him of his Latine weede, and after a homely sorte forced into barbarous Englishe.

1605 T. Tymme in tr. J. Du Chesne Pract. Chymicall & Hermeticall Physicke Ep. Ded. sig. A3^v Thus (right Honourable) you see a Paradox, no Paradox, & a Hieroglyphick plainly disciphered.

1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 19. ⁋11 I have found him..decyphering the Chinese language.

1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 361 Coins..with legends in a character not to be decyphered by the antiquaries of Europe.

1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. i. vi. 207 He deciphered the hieroglyphics.

1882 Shorthand 1 34 The clerks associated with the writer will each take so many leaves and begin to decipher and transcribe.

1914 Shorthand & Typewriter News Nov. 166/1 I decipher the cryptic [shorthand] notes, translate their meaning, and dictate the words to my typist.

2008 J. Ralston Unlikely Lavender Queen 99 I..tried to decipher the French in the pamphlets Robb had brought home from his trips.

c. transitive. In figurative contexts and extended metaphors: to make out or comprehend the meaning of (text, or something regarded figuratively as text, which is difficult to understand). Also occasionally intransitive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > expound, explain [verb (transitive)]

arecchec885

unloukOE

overrunOE

sutelec1000

trahtnec1000

unfolda1050

belayc1175

openc1175

onopena1200

accountc1300

undo?a1366

remenea1382

interpret1382

unwrap1387

exploitc1390

enlumine1393

declarec1400

expoundc1400

unplait?c1400

enperc1420

planea1425

clearc1440

exponec1440

to lay outc1440

to give (also carry) lightc1449

unwind1482

expose1483

reducea1500

manifest1530

explicate1531

explaina1535

unlock?1536

dilucidate1538

elucidate1538

illustrate1538

rechec1540

explicate1543

illucidate1545

enucleate1548

unsnarl1555

commonstrate1563

to lay forth1577

straighten1577

unbroid1577

untwist1577

decipherc1586

illuminate1586

enlighten1587

resolvec1592

cipher1594

eliquidate1596

to take (a person) with one1599

rivelc1600

ravel1604

unbowel1606

unmist1611

extricate1614

unbolta1616

untanglea1616

enode1623

unperplexa1631

perspicuate1634

explata1637

unravel1637

esclarea1639

clarify1642

unweave1642

detenebrate1646

dismystery1652

undecipher1654

unfork1654

unparadox1654

reflect1655

enodate1656

unmysterya1661

liquidatea1670

recognize1676

to clear upa1691

to throw sidelight on1726

to throw (also cast, shed) light on (also upon)1731

eclaircise1754

irradiate1864

unbraid1880

predigest1905

to get (something) straight1920

disambiguate1960

demystify1963

c1586 J. Stewart Poems (1913) 158 Thir verse disschyphre rycht..Or than ȝe sall no perfyt sentence find.

1599 S. Daniel Let. from Octavia xlix. sig. D2, in Poet. Ess. These secret figures, natures message beare Of coming woes, were they desciphered right.

1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 866 When our Saviour came into the World he unveiled the Jewish Religion, and decyphered all those mystical Characters wherein its spiritual sense was expressed.

1732 H. Davidson Let. 25 Feb. in T. Boston Mem. Life, Time, & Writings App. 21 We must believe loving-kindness in all the mysterious passages of Providence: we shall in due time see a wheel in the wheel, and be taught how to decipher the dark characters.

1862 C. P. Hodgson in Guardian 30 Apr. 424 The history of the ‘Ainos’ also is a singular book to decipher.

1865 D. Livingstone & C. Livingstone Narr. Exped. Zambesi xxv. 535 Attempting to decipher the testimony of the rocks.

1927 A. Levinson in R. Copeland & M. Cohen What is Dance? (1983) i. 53 The illiterate ballerina can be the unconscious revealer of something which she symbolises without understanding what it is. Only our poetic instinct can decipher her ‘writing of the body’.

1943 Life 11 Oct. 107/1 Her glance met mine and sent me a message which I did not decipher.

2002 A. Davies Frog King 19 The cryptographies of our hearts were deciphering each other. Our uncrackable codes were lying down in the dirt for one another, giving up all their secrets.

d. transitive. To make sense of or succeed in reading (writing having ill-formed or indistinct characters).

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > reading > [verb (transitive)] > to decipher or interpret, read

areadc885

unspell1665

reada1681

decipher1709

to make out1715

render1864

1709 R. Steele et al. Tatler No. 104 in Lucubrations Isaac Bickerstaff (1710) I. 2/1 With much ado I deciphered another Letter.

1799 C. Durnford in Rep. Court Common Pleas during Time Ld. Chief Justice Willes Pref. 4 The necessity of decyphering and transcribing myself the manuscripts of the learned Chief Justice which are in a character peculiar to himself.

1820 Cambro-Briton 2 18 I know not whether you will be able to decipher these foul scrawls, or distinguish them from the marginal explications.

1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect ii. ii. 479 In deciphering bad hand-writing there is scope for identifying sameness in diversity.

1911 G. Rawlence Highwayman xix. 155 The letter—written in a large scratchy hand, difficult to decipher, wavy in alignation—fluttered from Sir Michael's hand.

1965 Big Spring (Texas) Daily Herald 5 Jan. b10/7 I think I know what drove those early day typesetters to drink. It was having to decipher the pencilled reports of the reporters and editors.

2013 T. Hanks in N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Aug. (Review section) 6/2 There is no shame in type-overs or XXXXXXiing [sic] out a word so mistyped that spell-check could not decipher it.

5. transitive. figurative. To make out the meaning or significance of (something obscure or difficult to understand or follow); to interpret.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > interpretation > particular interpretation, construction > interpret in particular way [verb (transitive)]

understandc1000

interpretc1380

construea1400

construec1465

to make (a) construction1528

expound1533

confera1555

reada1556

decipher1569

resemble1592

intellect1599

1569 E. Fenton tr. P. Boaistuau Certaine Secrete Wonders Nature xli. f. 139^v Ther was found sundry learned and holy men, which began not only to decipher the misery of this infant [Fr. a philosopher sur la misere de cest enfant], but also y^e monstrous shape therof in this sort, saying, y^t by the horne was signified pride & ambition, by the wings lightnesse & inconstancie.

1602 W. Watson tr. E. Pasquier Iesuites Catech. i. ii. f. 5 I beseech you decyfer [Fr. dechifrer] your doctrine that I may vnderstand it, for to say truth, this is high Dutch to me.

1669 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. I i. vi. 33 Learned Bochart..does thus decipher this riddle.

1774 T. Reid Brief Acct. Aristotle's Logic iv. §2, in Ld. Kames Sketches Hist. Man II. iii. i. 237 By observing a train of uniform effects with due caution, we may at last decypher the law of nature by which they are regulated.

1874 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David IV. Ps. lxxxiv. 6 Probably there is here a local allusion, which will never now be deciphered.

a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 773 One of the main tasks of ecology is to decipher the patterns in the web of life.

1991 J. Wolf Daughter of Red Deer ii. xxi. 245 An expression he could not decipher..flitted across her face.

2001 N.Y. Times 4 Jan. b6/2 A leader in cutting-edge fields like bioinformatics, in which computers are used to decipher genes and proteins.

†6. transitive. To represent (one thing) as or by means of another; to express by a character, cipher, figure, etc. Cf. cipher v. 2. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > written character > represent by written character [verb (transitive)]

decipher1581

1581 A. Fleming Diamond of Deuotion i. ix. 42 Of two differing waies deciphered by the letter Y.

1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor Decipher, to write after a strange fashion, that none shall reade it.

1644 J. Bulwer Chirologia 15 The ancient Masters of the Hieroglyphiques..used to decypher a distinct and articulate voyce by a Tongue.

1720 D. Waterland 8 Serm. Divinity of Christ vii. 244 The Son being decipher'd and figur'd under those names, or Characters.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. vi. 103 Of these Hairs I likewise made a neat little Purse..with her Majesty's Name decyphered in Gold Letters.

1793 J. Hely tr. R. O'Flaherty Ogygia II. 104 I find these seven vowels A. O. U. E. I. Æ. Oi. thus decyphered in Virgean characters.

Derivatives

deˈciphered adj.

ΚΠ

1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 3 Those fewe decyffered names, which the aunncient Anathomistes haue giuen [to the Bones].

1689 J. Wallis Let. 9 Nov. in Gentleman's Mag. (1788) Oct. 852/1 My Lord, I send you the other decyphered letters.

1716 C. Townshend Let. 12 Oct. in W. Coxe Mem. Life & Admin. Sir R. Walpole (1798) II. ii. 113 You will find the inclosed letters very curious; that from count Gyllenburg to baron Gortz is decyphered.

1845 J. T. Graves Rom. Law in Encycl. Metrop. 776/1 A copy of the decyphered text.

1966 J. Bingham Double Agent vi. 93 It was the Night Duty Officer with a deciphered message from Vienna.

2009 New Scientist 30 May 30/2 Proto-Elamite preceded a partially deciphered script, Linear Elamite, used in the same area 750 years later.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	decipher
释义	deciphern. Brit. /dᵻˈsʌɪfə/, U.S. /dəˈsaɪfər/, /diˈsaɪfər/ Forms: see decipher v. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: decipher v. Etymology: < decipher v. 1. A translation or transliteration of a cipher; a decoded text, the result of deciphering. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > code, cipher > decoding, deciphering > [noun] decipher1545 deciphering1552 decipheration1651 decipherment1782 decipherage1851 decoding1897 cryptanalysis1923 code cracking1931 decrypting1938 code breaking1945 decryption1946 1545 Earl Hertford Let. to Hen. VIII in P. F. Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1834) V. 442 A letter in cipher..which we have deciphered, and send both the cipher and the decipher to your majesty herewith. 1571 Trial Duke of Norfolk in Cobbett's Compl. Coll. State Trials (1809) I. 1017 Baker brought me a decypher, telling me, That forty was for me, and thirty for the queen of Scots. a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) i. 22 His Majesty had pointed at no person, nor disclosed his meaning by any decipher or intimation. 1773 H. Mann Let. 28 Sept. in H. Walpole Corr. (1967) XXIII. 517 He swears he has neither cipher or decipher. 1812 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) IX. 280 I wish that the Marques had sent the ciphered letter here, or at least an accurate copy of the decipher. 1878 N. Pocock Harpsfield's Divorce Hen. VIII Notes 324 The passage is in cypher, and runs as follows in the decypher given by Mr. Brewer. 1940 J. S. Corbett Naval Operations III. App/ 442 The words ‘with own main body’ were omitted from the decipher. 1998 Hist. Jrnl. 41 932 Decipher of a report of a privy council meeting, 14 Sept. 1604. †2. A description, a delineation. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > narration > description or act of describing > [noun] descrivingc1325 declaration1382 descriptiona1387 devisementc1400 descrying1440 presentmentc1454 describing1553 delineation1578 display1583 presentation1597 representationa1602 diction1604 characterism1608 deciphera1670 characterization1801 redescription1839 descriptivism1935 a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) ii. 220 A Lord Chancellour of France, whose Decipher agrees exactly with this great Prelate, sometimes Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022). decipherv. Brit. /dᵻˈsʌɪfə/, U.S. /dəˈsaɪfər/, /diˈsaɪfər/ Forms: 1500s deciffer, 1500s decyffre, 1500s descyfer, 1500s desypher, 1500s dischypher, 1500s discifar, 1500s discifur, 1500s discyfr- (inflected form), 1500s dissipher, 1500s dissiphr- (inflected form), 1500s dissiphre, 1500s–1600s decifer, 1500s–1600s decifr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s deciphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s decyfer, 1500s–1600s decyffer, 1500s–1600s decyphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s descipher, 1500s–1600s desciphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s descypher, 1500s–1600s descyphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s dicipher, 1500s–1600s discifer, 1500s–1600s discipher, 1500s–1600s disciphre, 1500s–1600s discypher, 1500s–1600s discyphr- (inflected form), 1500s–1600s dyscipher, 1500s– decipher, 1500s– decypher; also Scottish pre-1700 dischypher, pre-1700 dishiffer, pre-1700 disschyphre, pre-1700 dissiffer. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: de- prefix, cipher n. Etymology: < de- prefix + cipher n. Compare Middle French, French déchiffrer, †deschiffrer (a1467, earliest in sense ‘to describe (something)’), Portuguese decifrar (1532 as †decyfrar), Italian decifrare (a1433 as †diciferare, earliest in sense ‘to work out or interpret (a communication in cipher)’; also †deciferare, †dicifrare), and also post-classical Latin deciphrare (1620 in a British source).With forms in des- , compare des- prefix; with forms in dis- , compare dis- prefix. I. General senses relating to discovery or representation. 1. transitive. To detect or discern; (also) to find out, discover. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > find or discover [verb (transitive)] > a thing or person hidden decipher1528 disclose1599 develop1653 1528 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. l. 104 To the intent we might the better discipher the very lett and sticking. 1574 J. Dee Let. 3 Oct. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 37 Yf by such a secret..Threasor hid may be decipherd in precise place. a1605 R. Bannatyne Memorials Trans. Scotl. (1836) 166 Sir Nicolas Throgmorton,..be frequent conferences,..had dischypheret ther wickit intentioune. 1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina ii. 177 The poor fellow fearing that all was deciphered, and begging the King's privacy, he confessed ingenuously the progress of the whole matter. 1767 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy IX. xxiv. 93 The postillion delivered this with so much discretion and natural eloquence, that I could not help decyphering something in his face above his condition. 1837 R. A. Davenport Life of Ali Pasha xii. 300 A profound knowledge of the human heart..enables him correctly to decipher their respective talents, and to assign to them the offices most suited to their abilities. 1914 E. M. Dunne Mem. of Zi Pre' xxvi. 234 By the light of the moon he deciphered the outline of a burly night watch-man. 1991 P. Jekel Bayou 350 His nose deciphered a faint tang, a salt edge to the freshening breeze. †2. transitive. To reveal, disclose; to make manifest or apparent the nature of (a person's character, etc.). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > communication > manifestation > [verb (transitive)] uppec897 atewOE sutelec1000 openOE awnc1175 kithec1175 forthteec1200 tawnec1220 let witc1275 forthshowa1300 to pilt out?a1300 showa1300 barea1325 mythc1330 unfoldc1374 to open outc1390 assign1398 mustera1400 reyve?a1400 vouchc1400 manifest?a1425 outshowc1425 ostendc1429 explayc1443 objecta1500 reveala1500 patefy?1509 decipher1529 relieve1533 to set outa1540 utter1542 report1548 unbuckle1548 to set forth1551 demonstrate1553 to hold forth1560 testify1560 explicate1565 forthsetc1565 to give show of1567 denudec1572 exhibit1573 apparent1577 display?1578 carry1580 cipher1583 laya1586 foreshow1590 uncloud?1594 vision1594 explain1597 proclaim1597 unroll1598 discloud1600 remonstrate1601 resent1602 to bring out1608 palesate1613 pronounce1615 to speak out1623 elicit1641 confess1646 bear1657 breathe1667 outplay1702 to throw out1741 evolve1744 announce1781 develop1806 exfoliate1808 evince1829 exposit1882 pack1925 society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] unwryc825 unhelec1000 to draw forthc1175 unhillc1200 to bring forth?c1225 unsteekc1250 let witc1275 uncovera1300 wraya1300 knowc1300 barea1325 shrivec1374 unwrapc1374 again-covera1382 nakena1382 outc1390 tellc1390 disclosea1393 cough1393 unhidea1400 unclosec1400 unhaspc1400 bewrayc1405 reveal1409 accusea1413 reveil1424 unlocka1425 unrekec1425 disclude?1440 uncurec1440 utter1444 detect1447 break1463 expose1483 divinec1500 revelate1514 to bring (also put) to light1526 decipher1529 rake1547 rip1549 unshadow1550 to lay to sight1563 uppen1565 unlace1567 unvisor?1571 resign1572 uncloak1574 disshroud1577 spill1577 reap1578 unrip1579 scour1585 unharboura1586 unmask1586 uncase1587 descrya1591 unclasp?1592 unrive1592 discover1594 unburden1594 untomb1594 unhusk1596 dismask1598 to open upc1600 untruss1600 divulge1602 unshale1606 unbrace1607 unveil1609 rave1610 disveil1611 unface1611 unsecret1612 unvizard1620 to open up1624 uncurtain1628 unscreen1628 unbare1630 disenvelop1632 unclothe1632 to lay forth1633 unshroud1633 unmuffle1637 midwife1638 dissecret1640 unseal1640 unmantle1643 to fetch out1644 undisguise1655 disvelop1658 decorticate1660 clash1667 exert1692 disinter1711 to up with1715 unbundlea1739 develop1741 disembosom1745 to open out1814 to let out1833 unsack1846 uncrown1849 to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861 unfrock1866 disbosom1868 to blow the lid off1928 flush1950 surface1955 to take or pull the wraps off1964 1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxxvi^v Yf he wold now..beleue those .iii. or .iiii. noughty persons, agaynst those .iii. or .iiii. C. good and honest men: he then shuld well decypher hym self, and well declare therby, [etc.]. 1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas sig. B 3 I haue a secret to disclose, a sorrowe to disciphre. 1625 A. Garden Characters & Ess. 35 Yet time decyphers these Deceivers all, When they debosh, and play Bankrupt, with all. 1657 G. Hutcheson Brief Expos. XII. Smal Prophets (ed. 2) (Micah iii. 7) 230/2 God will have false teachers seen in their own collours, and will decipher them to the world. 1793 T. Holcroft tr. J. C. Lavater Ess. Physiognomy (abridged ed.) xxxviii. 197 Each man has his favorite gesture which might decypher his whole character. †3. transitive. To represent, esp. verbally or pictorially; to describe, depict, portray. Cf. cipher v. 3. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > narration > description or act of describing > describe [verb (transitive)] sayOE devisec1300 readc1300 to make (a) showing ofc1330 counterfeitc1369 expressc1386 scrievec1390 descrya1400 scrya1400 drawa1413 representc1425 describec1450 report1460 qualify?1465 exhibit1534 perscribe1538 to set out1545 deline1566 delineate1566 decipher1567 denotate1599 lineate16.. denote1612 givea1616 inform?1615 to shape out1633 speaka1637 display1726 to hit off1737 society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > representation in art > represent in art [verb (transitive)] workOE shapea1375 express1382 marka1393 resemblea1393 portraya1398 devisea1400 makea1400 represent?a1425 counterfeitc1440 to set on write1486 porturea1500 emporturea1529 story1532 portrait1548 show1565 decipher1567 portraiture1581 to set forth1585 emblazea1592 stell1598 defigure1599 infigure1606 effigiate1608 deportract1611 deportray1611 rendera1616 image1624 configure1630 exiconize1641 effigies1652 to take off1680 mimic1770 paraphrase1961 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 253^v He not liking to..heare the secrettes of his falte so plainely decipherede, replied accordynge to the discrecion of our wilfull youth now adaies. a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 191 Thane begane he to dissipher the lyves of diverse Papes, and the lyves of all the scheavelynges for the most parte. 1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 1 Whether he were better with his art to discifer the life of the Nimpe Melia, or Cadmus encounter with the Dragon, or [etc.]. 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 142 Those painters which could moste artificially decipher a Dog..were greatly reuerenced among the Egyptians. 1629 P. Massinger Roman Actor i. i. sig. B^v On the Stage Decipher to the life what honours waite On good, and glorious actions. 1715 J. Addison Spectator No. 613. ¶8 Deciphering them on a Carpet humbly begging Admittance. 1753 L. M. tr. J. Du Bosc Accomplish'd Woman I. 1 The fancied Loves which these romantic Tales decipher. II. Senses relating to codes and writing, and derived uses. 4. a. transitive. To decode; to convert (what is written in cipher) into normal language; to work out or interpret (a communication in code). Cf. cipher n. 5a. Also occasionally intransitive. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > code, cipher > decoding, deciphering > decipher [verb (transitive)] decipher1529 uncipher1598 undecipher1764 decode1896 break1928 decrypt1936 1529 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. 7 Sept. (1933) 39 Bicause they [sc. letters from Rome] be moch in cifre, his Hignes desireth your Grace that they may be disciphred there and remitted hither again. 1552 R. Ascham Let. July in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 12 Your M^rship is wel ware in seeing our lettres fittly dissiphered, lest..a clear other mynd may appeare in reading, than was ment in writing. 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Qq1^v The vertues of them [sc. ciphers]..are..that they be impossible to discypher . View more context for this quotation 1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xix. 171 If then we can but arriue to decypher the first characters of the hidden Alphabet. 1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. x. 5 This following Letter was sent to him, by the Lord Jermin, in whose Cipher it was writ, and decipher'd by his Lordship. 1757 H. Newcastle Let. 8 Dec. in Mem. & Papers Sir A. Mitchell (1850) I. viii. 296 If..you should want to put any thing in cypher, pray do it, and I will get it decyphered at my Lord Holdernesse's office. 1821 N. Nicholas in Trans. Soc. Encouragement Arts, Manuf. & Commerce 39 107 The arrangement will be more complicated to those who might attempt to decipher a communication without possessing the key. 1839 G. P. R. James Louis XIV I. 9 The Queen was too closely watched to put the correspondence in cypher herself, or to decypher the answers she received. 1945 Life 26 Nov. 70/2 In composing the cipher, the sender starts with the first letter of the key word, the C... To decipher, the receiver simply reverses the process. 1983 Eng. Hist. Rev. 98 643 Bletchley Park housed the Government Code and Cypher School..of which the long highly-secret task was to decipher foreign—principally German—messages intercepted by various listening services. 1990 A. Adamthwaite in H. Sahmir France & Germany Age of Crisis, 1900–60 iv. 205 A small cypher section had to encipher and decipher by hand. 2002 R. F. ChurchHouse Codes & Ciphers xii. 166 Anyone who gets hold of the keys and knows the method of encryption can decipher their messages. b. transitive. To interpret, translate, or transliterate (text from a foreign or unfamiliar language or alphabet). Also occasionally intransitive. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > code, cipher > decoding, deciphering > decipher [verb (transitive)] > obscure or foreign writing decipher1574 trace1768 1574 T. Newton in tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes Ep. sig. Aiiij In this litle Pamphlet, so clerkely and compendiously decyphered, I haue aduentured to deuest him of his Latine weede, and after a homely sorte forced into barbarous Englishe. 1605 T. Tymme in tr. J. Du Chesne Pract. Chymicall & Hermeticall Physicke Ep. Ded. sig. A3^v Thus (right Honourable) you see a Paradox, no Paradox, & a Hieroglyphick plainly disciphered. 1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 19. ⁋11 I have found him..decyphering the Chinese language. 1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 361 Coins..with legends in a character not to be decyphered by the antiquaries of Europe. 1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. i. vi. 207 He deciphered the hieroglyphics. 1882 Shorthand 1 34 The clerks associated with the writer will each take so many leaves and begin to decipher and transcribe. 1914 Shorthand & Typewriter News Nov. 166/1 I decipher the cryptic [shorthand] notes, translate their meaning, and dictate the words to my typist. 2008 J. Ralston Unlikely Lavender Queen 99 I..tried to decipher the French in the pamphlets Robb had brought home from his trips. c. transitive. In figurative contexts and extended metaphors: to make out or comprehend the meaning of (text, or something regarded figuratively as text, which is difficult to understand). Also occasionally intransitive. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > expound, explain [verb (transitive)] arecchec885 unloukOE overrunOE sutelec1000 trahtnec1000 unfolda1050 belayc1175 openc1175 onopena1200 accountc1300 undo?a1366 remenea1382 interpret1382 unwrap1387 exploitc1390 enlumine1393 declarec1400 expoundc1400 unplait?c1400 enperc1420 planea1425 clearc1440 exponec1440 to lay outc1440 to give (also carry) lightc1449 unwind1482 expose1483 reducea1500 manifest1530 explicate1531 explaina1535 unlock?1536 dilucidate1538 elucidate1538 illustrate1538 rechec1540 explicate1543 illucidate1545 enucleate1548 unsnarl1555 commonstrate1563 to lay forth1577 straighten1577 unbroid1577 untwist1577 decipherc1586 illuminate1586 enlighten1587 resolvec1592 cipher1594 eliquidate1596 to take (a person) with one1599 rivelc1600 ravel1604 unbowel1606 unmist1611 extricate1614 unbolta1616 untanglea1616 enode1623 unperplexa1631 perspicuate1634 explata1637 unravel1637 esclarea1639 clarify1642 unweave1642 detenebrate1646 dismystery1652 undecipher1654 unfork1654 unparadox1654 reflect1655 enodate1656 unmysterya1661 liquidatea1670 recognize1676 to clear upa1691 to throw sidelight on1726 to throw (also cast, shed) light on (also upon)1731 eclaircise1754 irradiate1864 unbraid1880 predigest1905 to get (something) straight1920 disambiguate1960 demystify1963 c1586 J. Stewart Poems (1913) 158 Thir verse disschyphre rycht..Or than ȝe sall no perfyt sentence find. 1599 S. Daniel Let. from Octavia xlix. sig. D2, in Poet. Ess. These secret figures, natures message beare Of coming woes, were they desciphered right. 1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 866 When our Saviour came into the World he unveiled the Jewish Religion, and decyphered all those mystical Characters wherein its spiritual sense was expressed. 1732 H. Davidson Let. 25 Feb. in T. Boston Mem. Life, Time, & Writings App. 21 We must believe loving-kindness in all the mysterious passages of Providence: we shall in due time see a wheel in the wheel, and be taught how to decipher the dark characters. 1862 C. P. Hodgson in Guardian 30 Apr. 424 The history of the ‘Ainos’ also is a singular book to decipher. 1865 D. Livingstone & C. Livingstone Narr. Exped. Zambesi xxv. 535 Attempting to decipher the testimony of the rocks. 1927 A. Levinson in R. Copeland & M. Cohen What is Dance? (1983) i. 53 The illiterate ballerina can be the unconscious revealer of something which she symbolises without understanding what it is. Only our poetic instinct can decipher her ‘writing of the body’. 1943 Life 11 Oct. 107/1 Her glance met mine and sent me a message which I did not decipher. 2002 A. Davies Frog King 19 The cryptographies of our hearts were deciphering each other. Our uncrackable codes were lying down in the dirt for one another, giving up all their secrets. d. transitive. To make sense of or succeed in reading (writing having ill-formed or indistinct characters). ΘΚΠ society > communication > reading > [verb (transitive)] > to decipher or interpret, read areadc885 unspell1665 reada1681 decipher1709 to make out1715 render1864 1709 R. Steele et al. Tatler No. 104 in Lucubrations Isaac Bickerstaff (1710) I. 2/1 With much ado I deciphered another Letter. 1799 C. Durnford in Rep. Court Common Pleas during Time Ld. Chief Justice Willes Pref. 4 The necessity of decyphering and transcribing myself the manuscripts of the learned Chief Justice which are in a character peculiar to himself. 1820 Cambro-Briton 2 18 I know not whether you will be able to decipher these foul scrawls, or distinguish them from the marginal explications. 1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect ii. ii. 479 In deciphering bad hand-writing there is scope for identifying sameness in diversity. 1911 G. Rawlence Highwayman xix. 155 The letter—written in a large scratchy hand, difficult to decipher, wavy in alignation—fluttered from Sir Michael's hand. 1965 Big Spring (Texas) Daily Herald 5 Jan. b10/7 I think I know what drove those early day typesetters to drink. It was having to decipher the pencilled reports of the reporters and editors. 2013 T. Hanks in N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Aug. (Review section) 6/2 There is no shame in type-overs or XXXXXXiing [sic] out a word so mistyped that spell-check could not decipher it. 5. transitive. figurative. To make out the meaning or significance of (something obscure or difficult to understand or follow); to interpret. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > interpretation > particular interpretation, construction > interpret in particular way [verb (transitive)] understandc1000 interpretc1380 construea1400 construec1465 to make (a) construction1528 expound1533 confera1555 reada1556 decipher1569 resemble1592 intellect1599 1569 E. Fenton tr. P. Boaistuau Certaine Secrete Wonders Nature xli. f. 139^v Ther was found sundry learned and holy men, which began not only to decipher the misery of this infant [Fr. a philosopher sur la misere de cest enfant], but also y^e monstrous shape therof in this sort, saying, y^t by the horne was signified pride & ambition, by the wings lightnesse & inconstancie. 1602 W. Watson tr. E. Pasquier Iesuites Catech. i. ii. f. 5 I beseech you decyfer [Fr. dechifrer] your doctrine that I may vnderstand it, for to say truth, this is high Dutch to me. 1669 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. I i. vi. 33 Learned Bochart..does thus decipher this riddle. 1774 T. Reid Brief Acct. Aristotle's Logic iv. §2, in Ld. Kames Sketches Hist. Man II. iii. i. 237 By observing a train of uniform effects with due caution, we may at last decypher the law of nature by which they are regulated. 1874 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David IV. Ps. lxxxiv. 6 Probably there is here a local allusion, which will never now be deciphered. a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 773 One of the main tasks of ecology is to decipher the patterns in the web of life. 1991 J. Wolf Daughter of Red Deer ii. xxi. 245 An expression he could not decipher..flitted across her face. 2001 N.Y. Times 4 Jan. b6/2 A leader in cutting-edge fields like bioinformatics, in which computers are used to decipher genes and proteins. †6. transitive. To represent (one thing) as or by means of another; to express by a character, cipher, figure, etc. Cf. cipher v. 2. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > written character > represent by written character [verb (transitive)] decipher1581 1581 A. Fleming Diamond of Deuotion i. ix. 42 Of two differing waies deciphered by the letter Y. 1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expositor Decipher, to write after a strange fashion, that none shall reade it. 1644 J. Bulwer Chirologia 15 The ancient Masters of the Hieroglyphiques..used to decypher a distinct and articulate voyce by a Tongue. 1720 D. Waterland 8 Serm. Divinity of Christ vii. 244 The Son being decipher'd and figur'd under those names, or Characters. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. vi. 103 Of these Hairs I likewise made a neat little Purse..with her Majesty's Name decyphered in Gold Letters. 1793 J. Hely tr. R. O'Flaherty Ogygia II. 104 I find these seven vowels A. O. U. E. I. Æ. Oi. thus decyphered in Virgean characters. Derivatives deˈciphered adj. ΚΠ 1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 3 Those fewe decyffered names, which the aunncient Anathomistes haue giuen [to the Bones]. 1689 J. Wallis Let. 9 Nov. in Gentleman's Mag. (1788) Oct. 852/1 My Lord, I send you the other decyphered letters. 1716 C. Townshend Let. 12 Oct. in W. Coxe Mem. Life & Admin. Sir R. Walpole (1798) II. ii. 113 You will find the inclosed letters very curious; that from count Gyllenburg to baron Gortz is decyphered. 1845 J. T. Graves Rom. Law in Encycl. Metrop. 776/1 A copy of the decyphered text. 1966 J. Bingham Double Agent vi. 93 It was the Night Duty Officer with a deciphered message from Vienna. 2009 New Scientist 30 May 30/2 Proto-Elamite preceded a partially deciphered script, Linear Elamite, used in the same area 750 years later. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.1545v.1528
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deciphern.

decipherv.

Derivatives