undeciphered

adjective

un·​de·​ci·​phered ˌən-dē-ˈsī-fərd How to pronounce undeciphered (audio)
: not deciphered
… clay tablets inscribed with the curious, and then undeciphered, cuneiform ("wedge-shaped") script …Timothy Potts

Examples of undeciphered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The blockchain, like a massive, undeciphered corpus of an ancient language, hid a wealth of secrets in plain view. Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 17 Jan. 2024 The most notable undeciphered language may be the writings of the Indus Valley civilization, which has seen numerous decoding attempts, none yet successful. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 18 July 2019 Finally in Mesoamerica, the earliest surviving texts, which remain undeciphered, were carved onto monuments by the Olmec (roughly 500-900 BC) and Zapotec (by about 500 BC). Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2019 Another reason the Indus is elusive: that undeciphered script. Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2019 But many lost languages remain undeciphered, with no Rosetta Stone to point the way. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 18 July 2019 Several of these remain undeciphered, including a letter from the 1850s and a set of shorthand booklets collected by Dickens’ shorthand pupil, Arthur Stone (the son of his friend and neighbor). Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2022 The pop star was seen wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt and pink Pucci hat while posing by an undeciphered Stele of King Tanyidamani and a shrine. BostonGlobe.com, 13 Nov. 2019 She was also seen posing for a photo in front of the undeciphered Stele of King Tanyidamani and a shrine. Megan Johnson, PEOPLE.com, 12 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undeciphered.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undeciphered was circa 1668

Dictionary Entries Near undeciphered

Cite this Entry

“Undeciphered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undeciphered. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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