athbash

noun

ath·​bash
ätˈbäsh,
äth-
variants or less commonly atbash
ät-,
ˈ⸗ˌ⸗
plural -es
: a cipher used in Jewish mystical and allegorical writing in which each letter of a word is replaced by that letter which stands as many places from the end of the Hebrew alphabet as the letter replaced stands from the beginning compare albam

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew athbash, a word formed from the first, last, second, and next-to-last letters of the Hebrew alphabet

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Dictionary Entries Near athbash

Cite this Entry

“Athbash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athbash. Accessed 5 May. 2024.

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