Does the word "decipher" mean to interpret or understand....both words are in the dictionary with the explanation and I cant decide...I am leaning towards interpret?

Question

Writeacher · Answer

Either will work fine. Do you have a specific sentence you're dealing with? Context always helps. http://www.answers.com/decipher

Cassie · Answer

The sentence reads... "It puzzled him to decipher what he saw there." choices: interpret understand perceive find

Writeacher · Answer

Either "interpret" or "understand" will work, yes. Your teacher probably wants "interpret."

Cassie · Answer

That was my thought also...Thank you

Writeacher · Answer

You're welcome.

Dakota · Answer

We are stuck on identifying weather the sentence is a gerund or a participle