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Glite Dictionary
decipherment

decipherment

1 7.0
To change writing in a code or unknown language into plain text
  • noun
  • /dɪˈsaɪfərmənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : desciframiento
  • Now, advances in decipherment and chemical technology have made these vases invaluable for exploring the economic, political, and social exploits of the Maya.

And that was really what took the decipherment forward.

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Examples

  • This is particularly true of Maya civilization, where a combination of decipherment and large-scale field research is yielding new perceptions of lord and commoner alike.

    Academic text (2006)

  • And that was really what took the decipherment forward.

    The Royal Institution

  • Other than it certainly looks suspicious, no grand decipherment has come out.

    Blog text (24)

  • "Decipherment is the great gate of academic glory," says Vidale.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Today, most scholars believe that without longer texts or a multilingual one -- an Indus Rosetta Stone -- complete decipherment is impossible.

    Academic text (2010)

  • The archaeologist dedicated years to the decipherment of ancient tablets, revealing forgotten stories of past civilizations.

  • Recent breakthroughs in the decipherment of historical manuscripts have shed light on lost languages and cultures.

  • The team's decipherment of encrypted messages was crucial in understanding the events leading up to the war.

Synonyms

decryption
vsdecipherment
  • Specialized
13 5.1

Changing a secret code back so a message can be read

covers ciphers and obscure language as well as technical data
decoding
vsdecipherment
7 3.5

To change coded or secret information into normal words so people can understand it

includes obscure or nontechnical language as well as encrypted messages

Antonyms

obfuscation
  • Formal
12 8.7

Making something unclear or hard to understand on purpose

How Complete

decipherment
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Surface Forms

decipherment singular
decipherments plural

Morphology

decipherment = decipher (transparent) = decipher + ment

Formed by the productive noun-forming suffix '-ment' from the verb 'decipher', so the meaning 'the act or process of deciphering' is directly derived.

Etymology

The word decipherment comes from the verb decipher, made of de- 'remove' and cipher 'code', a root also linked to the idea of 'zero'. So, decipherment is the act of taking away a code to make a hidden message plain and easy to read.