Ci”pher, n. [OF. cifre zero, F. Chiffre figure (cf. Sp. cifra, LL. cifra), fr. Ar. [,c]ifrun, [,c]afrun, empty, cipher, zero, fr. [,c]afira to be empty. Cf. Zero.] 1. (Arith.) A character which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its value tenfold. 2. One who, or that which, has no weight or influence. ‘Here he was a mere cipher.’ —W. Irving.
