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This wisdom began to be written in ciphers
and characters and letters bearing the forms of creatures.

Sir W. Raleigh.

4. A combination or interweaving of
letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram; as, a
painter's cipher, an engraver's cipher, etc. The
cut represents the initials N. W.

5. A private alphabet, system of
characters, or other mode of writing, contrived for the safe
transmission of secrets; also, a writing in such
characters.

His father . . . engaged him when he was very
young to write all his letters to England in cipher.

Bp. Burnet.

Cipher key, a key to assist in reading
writings in cipher.

Ci"pher, a. Of the nature of a
cipher; of no weight or influence. "Twelve cipher
bishops." Milton.

Ci"pher, v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Ciphered (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Ciphering.] To use figures in a
mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic.

"T was certain he could write and cipher
too.


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