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Encipher Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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encipher

[ษชnหˆsaษชfษ™r ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

cryptography

To encipher means to convert information or a message into a coded form, making it unreadable without the proper key or method to decode it. This process is essential in the field of cryptography to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Synonyms

cipher, encode, encrypt.

Examples of usage

  • The spy had to encipher the message before sending it.
  • To ensure security, she decided to encipher all her emails.
  • The researchers needed to encipher their data to comply with privacy regulations.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

History

  • The practice of enciphering dates back to ancient civilizations like Egypt and Rome, where messages were often coded to protect military secrets.
  • During World War II, enciphering was crucial for military communication, with machines like the Enigma used to send coded messages.

Technology

  • Modern computers use sophisticated algorithms to encipher data, ensuring secure online transactions and communications.
  • Cryptography, the broader study of enciphering, combines mathematics, computer science, and intelligence to develop secure communication systems.

Literature

  • In literature, themes of enciphering often appear in mystery novels, where characters need to decode hidden messages to solve a crime.
  • Famous works, like Shakespeareโ€™s plays, sometimes included secret meanings enciphered within characters' speeches, inviting deeper analysis from readers.

Psychology

  • The act of enciphering can also relate to psychological defense mechanisms, where individuals encode their feelings and thoughts to protect themselves from vulnerability.
  • Research in cognitive psychology explores how the brain processes coded information differently, showing that enciphering can aid memory retention.

Origin of 'encipher'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'encipher' originates from the prefix 'en-' meaning 'to cause to be' and 'cipher', which is a term for a code or zero.
  • Historically, 'cipher' comes from the Arabic word 'sifr', meaning zero, illustrating how numbers and letters can be transformed into symbols.

The term 'encipher' originates from the early 17th century, derived from the word 'cipher', which itself traces back to the Arabic 'แนฃifr', meaning 'zero' or 'nothing'. The relationship with 'zero' reflects the concept of obscuring or nullifying the original meaning of a text through a complex substitution method. As encryption techniques evolved, particularly during times of war and conflict, the term became more associated with the process of transforming legible information into a secret code to protect it from adversaries. The prefix 'en-' indicates the action of causing to be, hence encapsulating the idea of actively changing text into a ciphered format. Today, enciphering is a critical aspect of data security, notably in digital communications, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,627, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.