kryptograph

Kryptograph, also spelled cryptograph in English, is a historical term that refers to either a cipher, a method of encoding a message, or a person who creates or deciphers codes. The word derives from Greek kryptos “hidden” and graphein “to write.” In many European languages the form kryptograph remains common in older texts, while English typically uses cryptograph or cryptographer.

In early use, a kryptograph could be a device used to conceal writing, such as a cipher wheel, or a coded message itself. Over time, the term shifted toward referring to the practitioner: the person who designs, implements, or breaks codes. In modern usage, cryptographer or cryptanalyst is preferred for the human agent; cryptography or encryption for the discipline, and cipher or encryption algorithm for the technique.

Historical context: The term appears in Renaissance and Enlightenment‑era treatises on secret writing and state ciphers. It is often encountered in translations, dictionaries, or historical texts rather than contemporary technical literature.

Modern status: Kryptograph is largely obsolete in technical English, though it may appear in discussions of the history of cryptography or in multilingual texts. When encountered, the intended meaning is usually clear from context: either a device or method for encoding, or a person involved in cryptographic work.

See also: cryptography, cryptology, cipher, encryption, cryptanalysis, cipher device, polyalphabetic cipher.