decipher

Decipher is a verb meaning to interpret or convert something that is difficult to read or understand into a clear, intelligible form. It is commonly used in relation to coded text, but also applies to unclear handwriting, inscriptions, or symbolic material that requires analysis to reveal its meaning. In everyday language, to decipher something is to solve or explain it.

In cryptography, to decipher a message means to transform ciphertext into plaintext, usually using a key or a cryptanalytic method. The related term decryption is often used in formal contexts to describe this process, while decipher can carry a broader sense, including the solving of a puzzle without necessarily referring to formal encryption. Decipherment can require linguistic, historical, or mathematical techniques.

Historically, decipherment has been central to understanding ancient scripts and codes, such as the decipherment of hieroglyphs or classical ciphers. In modern contexts, deciphering also covers tasks like reading deteriorated manuscripts or interpreting experimental data that lands beyond plain language. The activity ranges from practical tasks, such as decoding a message, to scholarly analysis of cryptographic systems and historical inscriptions.