[ci.pher] n, often attrib [ME, fr. MF cifre, fr. ML cifra, fr. Ar sifr empty, cipher, zero] (14c) 1 a: zero 1a b: one that has no weight, worth, or influence: nonentity
2. a: a method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning--compare code 3b b: a message in code
3: arabic numeral
4: a combination of symbolic letters; esp: the interwoven initials of a name
[2]cipher vb ci.phered ; ci.pher.ing vi (ca. 1530): to use figures in a mathematical process ~ vt 1: encipher
2: to compute arithmetically