===== Cryptogram Hints =====
A cryptogram is simply a puzzle where letters have been replaced with something else. The simplest type
is called by many names including a //Ceasar shift// or //simple substitution cypher//. In these puzzles,
each letter is simply replaced by another letter in the alphabet. For example, a //Ceasar shift// rotates
the alphbet by a number of positions:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M
This example illustrates a special a //Ceasar shift// variant is called //ROT13// in computing jargon.
In this case, every letter is replaced by the letter 13 characters away (n replaces a, o replaces b, //etc.//).
So, in a //Ceasar shift//, the substitution alphabet is rotated relative to the plaintext. Don't tell anyone,
but this is the basic principle of "Secret Decoder Rings" -- we all had one.
The cryptograms regularly published in //The Enigma// are //simple substitution cyphers//. This means they use
this basic leter for letter substitution but, unlike //Ceasar shift// and //ROT13//, the letter substitutions
do not maintain the order of the alphabet. Any letter can be replaced by any other letter.
The cryptogram in this puzzle is //not// a //simple substitution cypher// because it replaces single letters
with groups of distinct letters. Each substitution is described by a keyword which you will find in the grid
solution. For example, "WISDOM" could be read as follows: "W is DOM", which could be interpreted to say that
"the code for W is DOM". The following answer words (in numerical order) are keywords:
Across: 1, 5, 12, 13, 27, 34
Down: 2, 5, 6, 9, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 30, 31
==== Worksheet ====
As you solve these clues, you may use this worksheet to keep track of the code:
Plain text |
Keyword |
Code |
a | | |
c | | |
d | | |
e | | |
f | | |
g | | |
h | | |
i | | |
k | | |
l | | |
n | | |
n | | |
o | | |
p | | |
r | | |
s | | |
t | | |
u | | |
v | | |
w | wisdom | dom |
**Note:** If you want to know more about regular cryptograms is, you can see the
[[/guide/crypts.html|Guide to the Enigma]] topic about [[/guide/crypts.html|cryptograms]].
As the author of this puzzle has said, it is //not// a plain and conventional cryptogram
(but that doesn't make it too hard, either).
The plaintext [[/guide/guidelines.html#ENUMERATION|enumeration]] of the message is:
"4 4 '3 6 2 7 3 7." — 11.
4 6: 3 4 11 2 1.1.1. , 3 3 6 4.