| 释义 |
▪ I. decipher, v.|dɪˈsaɪfə(r)|
Forms: 6–7 des-, discipher, -cypher, (6 discifer, -sipher, 7 decyfer), 6– decipher, -cypher.
[f. cipher n., after F. déchiffrer, in 15th c. deschiffrer, f. des-, de- (de- I. 6) + chiffre cipher. Cf. It. deciferare (Florio).]
1. trans. To convert into ordinary writing (what is written in cipher); to make out or interpret (a communication in cipher) by means of the key.
1545Earl Hertford Let. Hen. VIII in Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1864) II. 404 A letter in cipher..which we have deciphered. 1552R. Ascham in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 12 Seeing our lettres fittly dissiphered. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xvi. §6 The virtues of them [ciphers]..are..that they be impossible to decipher. a1674Clarendon Hist. Reb. x. (1843) 595/2 The following letter was sent him by the Lord Jermyn, in whose Cipher it was writ, and deciphered by his lordship. 1709Hearne Collect. 24 Nov., Mr. Blincoe, being her Majesty's Officer in decyphering Letters, when there is occasion. 1839James Louis XIV, I. 9 The Queen was too closely watched to put the correspondence in cypher herself, or to decypher the answers she received. [See also cipher n. 5 and v. 2.]
2. transf. To make out the meaning of (characters as difficult as those of a cipher):
a. of obscure or badly-formed writing.
1710Steele Tatler No. 104 ⁋5 With much ado I deciphered another Letter. 1799C. Durnford Willes' Rep. Pref. 4 The necessity of decyphering and transcribing myself the manuscripts of the learned Chief Justice which are in a character peculiar to himself. 1855Bain Senses & Int. iii. ii. §21 In deciphering bad hand-writing there is scope for identifying sameness in diversity.
b. of hieroglyphics, or writing in a foregin alphabet. Also fig.
1681–6J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 264 When our Saviour came into the World he unveiled the Jewish Religion, and deciphered all those mystical Characters wherein its spiritual Sense was expressed. 1750Johnson Rambler No. 19 ⁋11, I have found him..decyphering the Chinese language. 1794Sullivan View Nat. II. 361 Coins..with legends in a character not to be decyphered by the antiquaries of Europe. 1843Prescott Mexico (1850) I. 175 He deciphered the hieroglyphics. 1858F. Hall in Jrnl. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 217 The Khaira inscription..has been partially deciphered.
3. To make out the meaning of (anything obscure or difficult to understand or trace):
a. of things fig. treated as writings;
b. of other things.
a.1605Daniel Philotas, These secret figures Nature's message beare Of comming woes, were they deciphered right. 1862C. P. Hodgson in Guardian 30 Apr. 424 The history of the ‘Ainos’ also is a singular book to decipher. 1865Livingstone Zambesi xxv. 535 Attempting to decipher the testimony of the rocks.
b.1669Gale Crt. Gentiles i. i. vi. 33 Learned Bochart..does thus decipher this riddle. 1788Reid Aristotle's Log. vi. §2. 141 We may at last decypher the law of nature. 1874Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. lxxxiv. 6 Probably there is here a local allusion, which will never now be deciphered. 1884Bower & Scott De Bary's Phaner. 367 A structure which at the first glance is difficult to decipher.
†4. To find out, discover, detect. Obs.
1528Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. I. l. 104 To the intent we might the better discipher the very lett and sticking. 1574Dee in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 37 Yf by such a secret..Threasor hid may be deciphered in precise place. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. iv. ii. 8 That you are both decipherd, thats the newes, For villaines markt with rape. 1599Sir R. Wrothe in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. III. 181, I have appoynted sum especiall spyall of them to bewray them and to know them..and I hope in time to have them discifared.
†5. Of actions, outward signs, etc.: To reveal, make known, indicate; to give the key to (a person's character, etc.). Obs.
1529More Suppl. Soulys Wks. 329/1 If he would nowe..belieue those .iij. or .iiij. noughty persones, against those .iij. or .iiij. C. good and honest men: he then should well decypher himselfe, and well declare therby, etc. 1598Shakes. Merry W. v. ii. 10 What needes either your Mum or her Budget? The white will decipher her well enough. a1649Drummond of Hawthornden Fam. Epist. Wks. (1711) 143 Crosses serve for many uses, and more than magistracies decipher the man. 1793Holcroft Lavater's Physiog. xxxviii. 197 Each man has his favorite gesture which might decypher his whole character.
†b. Of persons: To reveal. Obs.
1594J. Dickenson Arisbas (1878) 37 I haue a secret to disclose, a sorrowe to disciphre.
†6. To represent verbally or pictorially; to describe, delineate, portray, depict; = cipher v. 3.
a1572Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. (1846) I. 191 Thane begane he to dissipher the lyves of diverse Papes, and the lyves of all the scheavelynges for the most parte. 1579Gosson Sch. of Abuse (Arb.) 19 Whether he were better with his art to discifer the life of ye Nimphe Melia, or Cadmus encounter with the Dragon, or [etc.]. 1601Holland Pliny II. 145 First I will discipher the medicinable vertues of trees. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 112 Those Painters which could most artificially decipher a Dog..were greatly reverenced among the Egyptians. 1626Massinger Rom. Actor i. i, On the stage Decipher to the life what honours wait On good and glorious actions. 1714Addison Spect. No. 613 ⁋8 Decyphering them on a carpet humbly begging admittance. 1753L. M. tr. Du Boscq's Accompl. Woman 1 The fancied Loves which these romantic Tales decipher.
†7. To represent or express by some kind of character, cipher, or figure; = cipher v. 2. Obs.
1586A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 144 One tearmed by the name of Friendship, and this other challenging onely to be deciphered by Love. 1644Bulwer Chiron. 15 The ancient Masters of the Hieroglyphiques..used to decypher a distinct and articulate voyce by a Tongue. 1720Waterland 8 Serm., The Son being decipher'd and figur'd under those names or Characters. 1727Swift Gulliver, Brobdingnag vi, Of these hairs I likewise made a neat little purse,..with her majesty's name decyphered in gold letters.
Hence deˈciphered ppl. a.
1845Graves Rom. Law in Encycl. Metrop. 776/1 A copy of the decyphered text.
▪ II. deˈcipher, n.
[f. prec. vb.]
The decipherment or translation of a cipher.
1545Earl Hertford Let. to Hen. VIII in Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1864) II. 404 A letter in cipher..which we have deciphered, and send both the cipher and the decipher to your majesty herewith. 1571State Trials, Dk. of Norfolk (R.), Baker brought me a decypher, telling me, That forty was for me, and thirty for the Queen of Scots. a1670Hacket Abp. Williams i. (1692) 22 His Majesty had pointed at no person, nor disclosed his meaning by any decipher or intimation. 1812Wellington in Gurw. IX. 280, I wish that the Marques had sent the ciphered letter here, or at least an accurate copy of the decipher. 1878N. Pocock Harpsfield's Divorce Hen. VIII Notes 324 The passage is in cypher, and runs as follows in the decypher given by Mr. Brewer.
†b. Description, delineation. Obs.
a1670Hacket Abp. Williams ii. 220 (D.) A Lord Chancellour of France, whose decipher agrees exactly with this great prelate, sometimes Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. |