cryptographie

Forms

cryptographie f (plural cryptographies)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French crypto- + -graphie.^[2][3][1] The Petit Robert gives it as from New Latin cryptographia,^[4] and the Wiktionnaire as cryptographe with the suffix -ie.^[5] The elements go back to Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “hidden”) and γράφω (gráphō, “to write”).^[6][7][8] The same Greek adjective underlies crypte (through Latin) and décrypter.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1624, from the Duke of Lunebourg as cited in the Encyclopédie, for secret writing.^[2][3][4] The GLLF dates it to 1625, in Naudé.^[7]

Semantic evolution

Littré defines it as the art of writing in secret characters, either agreed in advance or obtained by transposing the letters of the alphabet, the same as writing in cipher; he also records the wider sense of expressing one's thoughts secretly through obscure words, equivocal writings or signs.^[6] Baudelaire used it in his translation of Poe (1856), and Loti in 1890 of coded notes between children.^[2] The Petit Robert's definition extends it to the protection of data.^[4]

The adjective cryptographique is recorded from 1752,^[4] and cryptogramme from the 19th century;^[8] the verb cryptographier is found in 20th-century Larousse dictionaries.^[2]

Timeline

• 1624 – First record, from the Duke of Lunebourg.^[2][4]
• 1625 – Naudé uses it.^[7]
• 1752 – The adjective cryptographique is recorded.^[4]
• 1856 – Baudelaire uses it in his translation of Poe.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. Secret writing, made by transposing the letters of the alphabet or replacing them with agreed signs, so that only someone with the key can read it; cipher.^[2][6][7]
2. Cryptography, the techniques for making a message unintelligible and for protecting data.^[4][1]
3. (dated) The art of expressing one's thoughts covertly, through obscure words, equivocal writings or signs.^[6]

Word family

• cryptographique
• cryptographier

Related words

• cryptographe
• cryptogramme
• crypte
• décrypter

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)