cipher

Some maintain that Orange County is still basically a cultural cipher--and some who adhere to this notion are home-grown.

That conversation comes up in “Twin Peaks: The Return” as Lynch flat-out confirms Laura Palmer to be a cipher for unyielding good, intended to restore universal balance after humankind developed a new capacity for evil.

The rest of them in the film are ciphers whose motives, dreams, suffering and rage remain unknown to us.

While “Million Dollar Baby” is one of this year’s defining singles, Richman remains largely a cipher.

With his background in military intelligence, Eugene is a cipher, allowing people to project whatever they desire onto him.