Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cryptography” come from?

Cryptography comes from Ancient Greek κρυπτός (hidden) and γράφω (to write), ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European roots ger- and gerebh-.

cryptography (English): The discipline concerned with communication...

Definitions

  1. The discipline concerned with communication...

Ancestry of “cryptography”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-graphySomething written or otherwise represented in the...
2French-graphie-graphy
3Latin-graphia-graphy
4Ancient Greekγράφωto scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to...
5Proto-Hellenicgrəpʰōto scratch, cut or carve into; to draw ,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangerbʰ-to carve
7Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

Words derived from “cryptography”

  • cryptographic
  • cryptographically
  • noncryptographic
  • anticryptography
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →