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hieroglyphic

[ hahy-er-uh-glif-ik, hahy-ruh- ]
/ ˌhaɪ ər əˈglɪf ɪk, ˌhaɪ rə- /
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See synonyms for: hieroglyphic / hieroglyphics on Thesaurus.com

adjective
Also hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal. designating or pertaining to a pictographic script, particularly that of the ancient Egyptians, in which many of the symbols are conventionalized, recognizable pictures of the things represented.
inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols.
hard to decipher; hard to read.
noun
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Origin of hieroglyphic

1575–85; <Late Latin hieroglyphicus <Greek hieroglyphikós “pertaining to sacred writing.” See hiero-, glyph, -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM hieroglyphic

hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hieroglyphic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hieroglyphic

hieroglyphic
/ (ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk) /

adjective Also: hieroglyphical
of or relating to a form of writing using picture symbols, esp as used in ancient Egypt
written with hieroglyphic symbols
difficult to read or decipher
noun Also: hieroglyph
a picture or symbol representing an object, concept, or sound
a symbol or picture that is difficult to read or decipher

Derived forms of hieroglyphic

hieroglyphically, adverbhieroglyphist (ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪst, ˌhaɪəˈrɒɡ-), noun

Word Origin for hieroglyphic

C16: from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hierogluphikos, from hiero- + gluphē carving, from gluphein to carve
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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