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Encipher: meaning, definitions and examples

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encipher

 

[ ɪnˈsaɪfər ]

Verb
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

Translations of the word "encipher" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cifrar

🇮🇳 कोड करना

🇩🇪 verschlüsseln

🇮🇩 menyandi

🇺🇦 шифрувати

🇵🇱 szyfrować

🇯🇵 暗号化する

🇫🇷 chiffrer

🇪🇸 cifrar

🇹🇷 şifrelemek

🇰🇷 암호화하다

🇸🇦 تشفير

🇨🇿 šifrovat

🇸🇰 šifrovať

🇨🇳 加密

🇸🇮 šifrirati

🇮🇸 kóðun

🇰🇿 шифрлау

🇬🇪 შიფრირება

🇦🇿 şifrələmək

🇲🇽 cifrar

Etymology

The term 'encipher' originates from the early 17th century, derived from the word 'cipher', which itself traces back to the Arabic 'ṣifr', 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.