The word "enciphering" is spelled with the letter "c" instead of "s" because it is a verb form of the word "cipher", which is derived from French. The pronunciation of "cipher" is /ˈsaɪfər/, and when adding the suffix "-ing" to make it a verb, the sound of "s" changes to /s/ in American English, and /z/ in British English. Therefore, the correct spelling of this verb is "enciphering", with a "c" in both American and British English.
Enciphering is a cryptographic process that involves transforming plain, readable text into a coded format known as cipher text. This technique serves to protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information during transmission or storage.
The process of enciphering typically employs a specific algorithm or mathematical formula to convert the original message into an encrypted form. The algorithm may use various methods, such as substitution or transposition, to rearrange or replace characters, digits, or symbols according to specified rules. This obfuscation of the original text makes the enciphered message unintelligible to anyone without the necessary decryption key or algorithm.
Enciphering is commonly used in securing confidential communications, particularly in electronic systems such as email, messaging applications, or online transactions. By encoding the data, it becomes incomprehensible to unauthorized individuals who might intercept or access it.
The strength of enciphering methods lies in their ability to resist attacks from unwanted entities seeking to decipher the message without proper authorization. Encryption algorithms are designed to be mathematically complex, making it extremely difficult and time-consuming for attackers to reverse-engineer and uncover the original content.
Overall, enciphering plays a crucial role in maintaining the privacy and security of information, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected from unauthorized access and maintaining confidentiality in various domains, including government, military, finance, and personal communications.
The word "enciphering" is formed by combining the prefix "en-" meaning "to make" or "to cause", and the word "cipher".
The term "cipher" originated from the Arabic word "sifr" meaning "zero" or "empty". It was later adopted into Medieval Latin as "cifra", used to refer to the Arabic numeral system. Over time, the meaning expanded to include secret writing or codes. In the English language, "cipher" refers to a method of encoding or decoding a message, typically done by substituting letters or symbols according to a specific rule or algorithm.
Therefore, "enciphering" is the act of converting plain text into a coded message or cipher.