Main Entry:

¹ci·pher

Pronunciation:

\ˈsī-fər\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Middle English, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr empty, cipher, zero

Date:

14th century

1 a: zero 1a b: one that has no weight, worth, or influence : nonentity2 a: a method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning — compare code 3b b: a message in code3: arabic numeral4: a combination of symbolic letters ; especially : the interwoven initials of a name