hieroglyph








adjective

  1. 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.
  2. inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols.
  3. hard to decipher; hard to read.

noun

  1. Also hi·er·o·glyph. a hieroglyphic symbol.
  2. Usually hieroglyphics. hieroglyphic writing.
  3. a figure or symbol with a hidden meaning.
  4. hieroglyphics, handwriting, figures, characters, code, etc., difficult to decipher: the confusing hieroglyphics of advanced mathematics.

adjective Also: hieroglyphical

  1. of or relating to a form of writing using picture symbols, esp as used in ancient Egypt
  2. written with hieroglyphic symbols
  3. difficult to read or decipher

noun Also: hieroglyph

  1. a picture or symbol representing an object, concept, or sound
  2. a symbol or picture that is difficult to read or decipher
n.

1590s, shortening of hieroglyphic (n.), 1590s; see hieroglyphic.

1580s (adj. and n.), from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos “hieroglyphic; of Egyptian writing,” from hieros “sacred” (see ire) + glyphe “carving,” from glyphein “to carve” (see glyph). Plutarch began the custom of using the adjective (ta hieroglyphika) as a noun.

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