n. | 1. | ||||
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. | ||||
2. | One who, or that which, has no weight or influence. | ||||
3. | A character in general, as a figure or letter. | ||||
4. | A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram; | ||||
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.
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a. | 1. | Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. | |||
v. i. | 1. | To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic. | |||
v. t. | 1. | To write in occult characters. | |||
2. | To get by ciphering; | ||||
3. | To decipher. | ||||
4. | To designate by characters. |
Noun | 1. | cipher - a message written in a secret code Synonyms: cypher |
2. | cipher - a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number | |
3. | ![]() | |
4. | cipher - a person of no influence | |
5. | cipher - a secret method of writing | |
Verb | 1. | cipher - convert ordinary language into code; "We should encode the message for security reasons" |
2. | cipher - make a mathematical calculation or computation |
CIPHER. An arithmetical character, used for numerical notation. Vide
Figures, and 13 Vin. Ab. 210; 18 Eng. C. L. R. 95; 1 Ch. Cr. Law, 176.
2. By cipher is also understood a mode of secret writing. Public
ministers and other public agents frequently use ciphers in their
correspondence, and it is sometimes very useful so to correspond in times of
war. A key is given to each minister before his departure, namely, the
cipher for writing ciphers, (chiffre chiffrant,) and the cipher for
deciphering (chiffre dechiffrant.) Besides these, it is usual to give him a
common cipher, (chiffre banal,) which is known to all the ministers of the
same power, who occasionally use it in their correspondence with each other.
3. When it is suspected that, a cipher becomes known to the cabinet
where the minister is residing, recourse is had to a preconcerted sign in
order to annul, entirely or in part, what has been written in cipher, or
rather to indicate that the contents are to be understood in an inverted or
contrary sense. A cipher of reserve is also employed in extraordinary cases.