I. ˈsī-fər 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 : 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 ; especially : the interwoven initials of a name
II. verb
( ci·phered ; ci·pher·ing -f(ə-)riŋ)
Date: circa 1530
intransitive verb
: to use figures in a mathematical process
transitive verb
1. : encipher
2. : to compute arithmetically