decipherment

This term describes the intellectual achievement of unlocking a hidden or obscured meaning. It is most frequently used in academic, archaeological, or cryptographic contexts to describe the breakthrough moment when a previously unknown language or code is finally understood. It carries a connotation of rigorous analysis and scholarly triumph.

In a more casual or everyday sense, it refers to the struggle to read poor handwriting or fragmented text. While "deciphering" (the verb) describes the ongoing action, "decipherment" emphasizes the completed process or the specific act of resolution.