Cipher

n. [O. Fr. cifre, N. Fr. chiffre, Sp. & Pg. cifra, It. cifra and cifera, Ger. ziffer, L. Lat. cifra, zifera, from Ar. sifrun, safrun, empty, cipher, zero, from safira, to be empty.]

1. (Arith.) A character [0] which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its value tenfold.
2. A person of no worth or character.

Here he was a mere cipher, there he was lord of the ascendant. W. Irving. 3. A character in general. [Obs.] This wisdom began to be written in ciphers and characters. Raleigh.

4. A combination or intertexture of letters, as the initials of a name, engraved, stamped, or written upon any thing; a device; an enigmatical character; as, a painter's cipher, an engraver's cipher, &c. The cut represents the initials N. W.
5. A private alphabet or system of characters contrived for the safe transmission of secrets.

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