different between decipher vs unfold

English

Alternative forms

• decypher

Etymology

As decypher, but not 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.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??sa?f?(?)/
• Rhymes: -a?f?(r)

Verb

decipher (third-person singular simple present deciphers, present participle deciphering, simple past and past participle deciphered)

1. (transitive) To decode or decrypt a code or cipher to plain text.
2. (transitive) To read text that is almost illegible or obscure.
3. (transitive) To find a solution to a problem.

Derived terms

Related terms

• decrypt

Translations

Noun

decipher (plural deciphers)

1. A decipherment; a decoding.
   • 1837, Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington, John Gurwood, The Dispatches of Field Marshall the Duke of Wellington, K.G.

     I enclose a letter which I received yesterday evening from the Marques de Monsalud, containing the decipher of a letter from the King to the Comte d'Erlon. I wish that the Marques had sent the ciphered letter here […]

Anagrams

• ciphered

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?f??ld/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?fo?ld/
• Rhymes: -??ld

Etymology

From Middle English unfolden, from Old English unfealdan (“to unfold”), equivalent to un- +? fold.

Verb

unfold (third-person singular simple present unfolds, present participle unfolding, simple past and past participle unfolded)

1. To undo a folding.

   • Unfold thy forehead gathered into frowns.

2. (intransitive) To turn out; to happen; to develop.

   • Memento unfolds over 22 scenes—or, more accurately, 22 strands of time, the main strand (in color) moving backward in increments, and another strand (in black and white) going forward, though the two overlap profoundly.

3. (transitive) To reveal.

   • Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing  To what I shall unfold.

4. To open (anything covered or closed); to lay open to view or contemplation; to bring out in all the details, or by successive development.

5. To release from a fold or pen.

Synonyms

• (to reveal): expose, uncover; see also Thesaurus:reveal

Antonyms

• fold

Translations

Noun

unfold (plural unfolds)

1. (computing, programming) In functional programming, a kind of higher-order function that is the opposite of a fold.