Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CIPHER

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connect today's word to others: From a Sanskrit word meaning "empty" comes the Arabic ṣifr, meaning "zero," and that's where we got our word cipher. In one of its senses, a cipher is a zero--literally, the written quantity 0, or figuratively, a worthless and unimportant thing or person. In that sense, cipher is a synonym of non___ity, meaning "a zero, a nobody, a thing or person of no importance, or a thing or person who doesn't even exist." In another sense, because a cipher can also be any written numeral, character, or hieroglyph, a cipher is also a secret code, or a secret way of writing letters. If you're ciphering something, you're encoding it--which explains why the opposite process is deciphering. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "CIPHER" We'll stick to the two most common meanings. First, a cipher can be a nobody, or a nothing. In other words, a cipher is a thing or person with no value, no importance, or no specific qualities at all. (We'll pay a little more attention to this first meaning, since it's more useful than the second.) Second, a cipher can be a secret code or a secret encoded message. Pronunciation: SIGH fur Part of speech: Most often a noun, the countable kind: "a cipher," "this cipher," "several ciphers." And, although it's rare, it's also a verb, meaning "to encode" or "to calculate:" you can cipher characters, cipher documents; cipher sums, cipher problems, or just plain cipher (do the math). Other forms: The plural is "ciphers." The state of being a nobody is "cipherdom" (or less commonly, "cipherhood"). As I mentioned above, you can "cipher" things (encode them or calculate them), with the other verb forms being "ciphered" and "ciphering." And sometimes you'll see an alternate spelling: "cypher." How to use it: Thanks to its use in math and cryptography, "cipher" has a tone that's both sophisticated and mysterious. When you use "cipher" to mean "a nobody," you might say that people see or treat others as ciphers. Or, you might say that some person (or some fictional character) is (or isn't) a cipher, sometimes to someone else ("he's a cipher to his classmates," "she's a mere cipher to her contemporaries"), or that some person becomes, remains, or functions as a cipher in some situation or story. Ciphers are usually people, but you can also refer to things and ideas as ciphers. For example, you might say that some award, concept, or tradition has been reduced to a cipher, meaning it no longer has any effect, meaning, influence, or importance. And when you use "cipher" to mean "a code" or "a coded message," talk about people writing in cipher, or about a cipher that hides or translates or transforms information. Or, say that some message, statement, title, feature, character, event, description, explanation and so on is a cipher, sometimes for whatever meaning it actually expresses. examples: On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the title demons often seem like symbols of teenage angst--ciphers for everything from bullying to homework overload to an unrequited crush. "Without having Negan on-screen to explain his plan or to even carry it out himself, the audience is largely left in the dark when it comes to his motivations...Negan, even after all this time, often remains a frustrating cipher."    — Nick Statt, The Verge, 26 March 2018 study it: Explain BOTH meanings of "cipher" without saying "a code" or "a person with no personality." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Some person or thing) has been reduced to a cipher (in some situation), no longer (having some specific meaning or importance)." Example: "The word 'literally' has been reduced to a cipher in casual speech, no longer conferring any special emphasis." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Controversial Catchphrases! This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world. I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids). From the previous issue: People who argue "yes" say things like "in the US Constitution," "all parts of the country," and "guarantees certainty to the outcome." People who argue "no" say things like "no longer relevant," "too much power," and "ignores the will of the people." What's the question? The question is, "Should the United States use the electoral college in presidential elections?"  (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "safety," "outdoor activities," and "extended evening hours." People who argue "no" say things like "waste of time," "decreased productivity," and "against circadian rhythms." What's the question? review today's word: 1. One opposite of CIPHER is A. PUZZLE. B. SUPERSTAR. C. ACCOMPLISHMENT. 2.  More than she feared being ridiculed, she feared being treated like a cipher, like _____. A. an aging pop star, always recognized but pitied B. an extra in a movie, bland and blending into the background C. a lamb stranded on a hilltop, too weak and stupid to fend for itself Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B