The present participle of decode; converting coded information back into intelligible form or interpreting hidden meanings.
From 'de-' (reversing prefix) + 'code' (from Latin 'codex' meaning 'book' or 'system of laws'). The term emerged in the early 20th century with telecommunications and cryptography, then expanded to describe any interpretive process.
Decoding happens constantly in human communication - we decode facial expressions, decode text messages for emotional subtext, and decode cultural symbols. The word captures how much of understanding involves translating between different systems of meaning.
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