decrypt
UK[diːˈkrɪpt]US[diːˈkrɪpt]
v
To change electronic information or signals that were stored, written, or sent in the form of a secret code (= encrypted) back into a form that you can understand and use normally.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
crypt
de
reverse
crypt
hidden
Etymology
The word 'decrypt' is a modern formation, built upon the classical foundations of 'cryptography.' The core element 'crypt' originates from the Greek adjective kryptos, meaning "hidden," which is also the source for words like 'crypt' (a hidden vault) and 'cryptic' (mysteriously hidden). The Latin prefix 'de-', often indicating reversal or removal, is prefixed to this root. Therefore, the literal morphemic logic of 'decrypt' is "to reverse the hidden state" or "to remove the secrecy from," directly evolving into its contemporary technical meaning of converting encoded data back into its original, intelligible form.
Analysis
Structure: de (reverse) + crypt (hidden)
de: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "down, away, off, reversal, removal."
crypt: From Greek kryptos (hidden), via Latin crypta (vault, hidden place). In this word, it functions as the root meaning "hidden" or "secret."
Examples
The software uses a special key to decrypt the secure message.
It took experts several days to decrypt the enemy's communications.
You must enter the correct password to decrypt the files on this drive.