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To translate from secret characters or ciphers into intelligible terms; as, to decipher a letter written in secret characters.

Capable of being deciphered; as, old writings not decipherable.

One who deciphers.

A woman who deciphers.

The act of deciphering.

Not decipherable; incapable of being deciphered, explained, or solved. -- In`de*ci"pher*a*bly, adv.

A post-office clerk whose duty is to decipher obscure addresses.

To decipher. [Obs.] Shak.

Cipher; something written in cipher. "Decipherers of cryptograph." J. Earle.

Cuneiform. "Cuneatic decipherment." Sayce.

The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.

The science of inscriptions; the art of engraving inscriptions or of deciphering them.

To inspect; to investigate; to decipher. [R.] To take some pains in excusing some old monuments. F. Junius (1654).

Resembling hieroglyphics; not decipherable. "An hieroglyphical scrawl." Sir W. Scott.

nt. Authorities are not agreed as to their race. While several attempts have been made to decipher the Hittite characters, little progress has yet been made.

Wholly or completely concealing; incapable of being deciphered. Holocryptic cipher, a cipher so constructed as to afford no clew to its meaning to one ignorant of the key.

g of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied esp. to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.; as, to interpret the Hebrew language to an Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech. Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God…

Capable of being read or deciphered; distinct to the eye; plain; - - used of writing or printing; as, a fair, legible manuscript. The stone with moss and lichens so overspread, Nothing is legible but the name alone. Longfellow.

proof to clear one's self of a charge. -- To make out. (a) To find out; to discover; to decipher; as, to make out the meaning of a letter. (b) To prove; to establish; as, the plaintiff was unable to make out his case. (c) To make complete or exact; as, he was not able to make out the money. -- To make over, to trans…

To erase or blot out; to efface; to render undecipherable, as a writing.