Crypotograms on the Prowl

Authors

Dmitri A. Borgmann

Abstract

One of the fundamental ways of enciphering a text for the purpose of concealing its message is to rearrange the letters of which it consists. The result is a so-called transposition cipher. If we apply its principle to individual words or names, we can achieve interesting results. For example, ECHOIC turns into CHOICE with the mere shift of its first letter to the end of the word: CLAIMED converts into DECIMAL (or into MEDICAL, DECLAIM, CADMIEL, MEDALIC, CAMELID, or MALICED): and MOUNTAINEER becomes ENUMERATION. Tens of thousands of other English words and names can similarly be transposed.

Recommended Citation

Borgmann, Dmitri A. (1987) "Crypotograms on the Prowl," Word Ways: Vol. 20 : Iss. 1 , Article 9.
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol20/iss1/9