decypher

Meaning

Verb

Alternative spelling of decipher

Noun

Alternative spelling of decipher

Synonyms

decode

Etymology

Cognate with Old French: -

Cognate with French: déchiffrer

Cognate with Italian: decifrare

In summary

As decipher, but retaining the y from the Old French etyma of cipher (cyfre, cyffre); the i spelling tends to be preferred etymologically, being consistent with its cognates, the French déchiffrer and the Italian decifrare, and with their common ancestor, the Medieval Latin cifra, cifera, ciphra. By surface analysis, de- + cypher.