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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary hi·ero·glyph·ic
ETYMOLOGY Middle French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos, from hieros + glypheinto carve — more at cleave DATE 1585 1. written in, constituting, or belonging to a system of writing mainly in pictorial characters 2. inscribed with hieroglyphic 3. resembling hieroglyphic in difficulty of decipherment
noun DATE 1586 1. hieroglyph 2. a system of hieroglyphic writing; specifically : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood — often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr. 3. something that resembles a hieroglyph especially in difficulty of decipherment [hieroglyphic 2] English Etymology hieroglyphic 1585, from L.L. hieroglyphicus, from Gk. hieroglyphikos, from hieros "sacred" + glyphe "carving," from glyphein "to carve." Plutarch began the custom of using the adj. (ta hieroglyphika) as a noun. Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged hi·er·o·glyph·ic I. \| ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷|glifik, -fēk\ adjective or hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal \-fə̇kəl, -fēk-\ Etymology: hieroglyphic from Middle French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos, from hier- + glyphikos of carving; hieroglyphical from Middle French hieroglyphique + English -al — more at glyphic 1. a. : written in, constituting, or belonging to that form of ancient Egyptian writing in which the characters are for the most part recognizable pictures of objects — compare demotic , hieratic b. : written in, constituting, or belonging to any system of writing in which the characters are to a substantial degree recognizable pictures < finest of the three surviving Maya hieroglyphic books — J.E.S.Thompson > 2. : inscribed with hieroglyphic characters < hieroglyphic obelisk > 3. : resembling hieroglyphic in form < coleus mosaic — causing … hieroglyphic markings on leaves — Experiment Station Record > symbolism < hieroglyphic emblem > or illegibility < the most hieroglyphic of prescriptions — H.V.Morton > < hieroglyphical entries in thick, half-obliterated pencil — Bram Stoker > • hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal·ly \-fə̇k(ə) lē, -fēk-, -li\ adverb II. noun (-s) 1. : hieroglyph 12. : a system of hieroglyphic writing < a German philologist … started the decipherment of Hittite hieroglyphic — C.J.Rolo > specifically : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood < the elaborate hieroglyphic … was too slow and laborious a method of writing for the needs of everyday business — J.H.Breasted > — often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr. 3. : something that resembles a hieroglyphic in form, symbolic content, or difficulty of decipherment < the frightening hieroglyphics of … shorthand — advt > < the traditional hieroglyphic that was said to identify for tramps the houses where meals were certain — Ben Riker > < the hieroglyphic-covered blackboard — Philip Hamburger > [hieroglyphic 2] III. transitive verb Etymology: hieroglyphic (II) obsolete : hieroglyph |
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