decipher
Make sense of
To decipher is to convert coded or obscured text into understandable form.
You decipher encrypted messages, ancient scripts, or illegible handwriting.
The word extends to making sense of anything puzzling: I couldn't decipher his motives.
She finally deciphered the doctor's scrawl on the prescription.
Convert from cipher
- codebreakingSolving secret communications
- cryptanalysisStudy of breaking ciphers
- keyLock-opening device
- plaintextUnencoded readable information
scramble · unscramble · algorithm · Enigma · Rosetta Stone · secret message · hidden · obfuscate
Find the answer
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
brain-teaser · cryptogram · clue · hint · pattern · logic · deduce · uncover
Grasp the meaning
- comprehendTo fully understand
- make sense ofGrasp the meaning
- parseExamine syntax closely
- elucidateTo make understood
explicate · grasp · unravel · untangle · figure out · work out · piece together · discern
Manual letter formation
- scrawlCareless, illegible writing
- illegibleCannot be read
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- inscriptionText permanently marked
text · script · cuneiform · runes · glyphs · symbols · characters · notation
Express in another language
- interpretExtract or convey meaning
- meaningWhat something signifies
- foreignFrom another nation
- unfamiliarNot previously known
jargon · technical · arcane · obscure · terminology · vernacular · idiom · context
decode
Convert from cipher
- codebreakingSolving secret communications
- cryptanalysisStudy of breaking ciphers
- keyLock-opening device
plaintext · scramble · unscramble · algorithm · Enigma · Rosetta Stone · secret message · hidden · obfuscate · reveal
solve
Find the answer
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
conundrum · brain-teaser · cryptogram · clue · hint · pattern · logic · deduce · uncover · unlock
understand
Grasp the meaning
- comprehendTo fully understand
- make sense ofGrasp the meaning
- parseExamine syntax closely
elucidate · explicate · grasp · unravel · untangle · figure out · work out · piece together · discern · fathom
handwriting
Manual letter formation
- scrawlCareless, illegible writing
- illegibleCannot be read
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
inscription · text · script · cuneiform · runes · glyphs · symbols · characters · notation · shorthand
translate
Express in another language
unfamiliar · jargon · technical · arcane · obscure · terminology · vernacular · idiom · context · syntax
- readingfluency, read, comprehension, readers, books
- mysteriesmystery, enigma, enigmas, puzzle, riddle
- cryptographyAES, RSA, key, plaintext, cryptosystem
- communicateexpress, convey, communicate, tell, share
- detectiondetect, discover, find, identify, locate
- examineexamine, analyze, assess, evaluate, inspect
deciphermisinterpret
Understand something incorrectly
misunderstand · misconstrue · misread · misapprehend · misconceive
deciphers, deciphered, deciphering, decipherment, decipherable