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

Other Language Terms

cognate, collocation, homonym

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

Illustration of HIEROGLYPHIC

First Known Use of HIEROGLYPHIC

1586

Other Language Terms

cognate, collocation, homonym

Rhymes with HIEROGLYPHIC

HIEROGLYPHICAL 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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