Decipher
/dɪˈsaɪ.fər/noun
To interpret or make sense of a coded or unclear message.
Did you know?The roots of 'decipher' connect to ancient practices of decoding secret messages, often used in espionage and mystical rites.
Etymological Timeline
Old French
Old French
decifrer
“To break or dissolve a code.”
Latin
Latin
decifrare
“To unfix or unbind something.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*keip-
“To seize or take.”
Middle English
Middle English
decifren
“To interpret or explain.”
Modern English
English
decipher
“To convert a coded text into intelligible language.”