Dictionary
1hieroglyphic
adjective hi·ero·glyph·ic \ˌhī-(ə-)rə-ˈgli-fik\
Definition of HIEROGLYPHIC
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
— hi·ero·glyph·i·cal·ly \-fi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Variants of HIEROGLYPHIC
hi·ero·glyph·ic also hi·ero·glyph·i·cal \-fi-kəl\
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Origin of HIEROGLYPHIC
Middle French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos, from hieros + glyphein to carve — more at cleave
First Known Use: 1585
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Rhymes with HIEROGLYPHIC
2hieroglyphic
noun
Definition of HIEROGLYPHIC
1
2
: a system of hieroglyphic writing; specifically : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood —often used in plural but singular or plural in construction
3
: something that resembles a hieroglyph especially in difficulty of decipherment
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Illustration of HIEROGLYPHIC
First Known Use of HIEROGLYPHIC
1586
Other Language Terms
Rhymes with HIEROGLYPHIC
HIEROGLYPHIC[1] Defined for Kids
hieroglyphic
noun hi·ero·glyph·ic \ˌhī-ə-rə-ˈgli-fik\
Definition of HIEROGLYPHIC for Kids
: any of the symbols in the picture writing of ancient Egypt
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