Cipher
/ˈsaɪ.fər/noun
A method of transforming a message to conceal its meaning.
Did you know?The word 'cipher' comes from the Arabic 'ṣifr', meaning 'zero', which symbolizes the notion of nothingness and infinite possibilities in magic and mathematics.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic
Arabic
ṣifr
“Meaning 'zero', reflecting the concept of absence and the mystical qualities of numbers.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
cifra
“Derived from Arabic, referring to the numeral system and the art of encoding.”
Old French
Old French
cifre
“Meaning 'figure' or 'number', emphasizing the numerical aspect of encoding.”
14th Century
Middle English
cypher
“Referring to a coded message or method of secret writing.”
Modern English
English
cipher
“A term for any method of transforming text to hide its meaning.”