indecipherable
UK[ˌɪndɪˈsaɪfrəbl̩]US[ˌɪndɪˈsaɪfrəbl̩]
adj
impossible to read or understand because of being badly written, coded, or damaged
adj
impossible to understand or interpret
Morpheme Breakdown
in
de
cipher
able
in
not
de
down, completely
cipher
code
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'indecipherable' is built upon the verb 'decipher', which itself originates from the medieval latin 'cifra' (meaning zero or code), derived from the arabic 'ṣifr' (empty, zero). the latin prefix 'de-' was added to imply a sense of 'down from' or 'undoing' a code. to form the adjective meaning 'able to be deciphered', the suffix '-able' was appended. finally, the negative prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') was prefixed to create the current sense of 'not capable of being decoded or understood'. thus, the word's literal construction logically leads to its modern meaning of something that cannot be interpreted, whether it be a scrawl, a symbol, or an enigmatic situation.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + de (down, completely) + cipher (code) + able (capable of)
in- (latin, prefix meaning 'not'); de- (latin, prefix meaning 'down, away, completely'); cipher (from medieval latin 'cifra' and arabic 'ṣifr', meaning 'zero, code'); -able (latin suffix via old french, meaning 'capable of, fit for').
Examples
the ancient manuscript was so faded that the text was indecipherable.
his handwriting is so messy that his notes are completely indecipherable.
the encrypted message remained indecipherable even to the best codebreakers.