noun

hieroglyphic

Hieroglyphic (noun) means a writing system of ancient Egypt, Minoans, Maya and other civilizations, using pictorial symbols to represent individual sounds, often as a rebus.

noun

A writing system of ancient Egypt, Minoans, Maya and other civilizations, using pictorial symbols to represent individual sounds, often as a rebus.

Any symbol used in this system; a hieroglyph.

Undecipherable handwriting or secret symbol.

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Etymology

First coined 1726, from French hiéroglyphique, from Latin hieroglyphicus, from Ancient Greek ἱερογλυφικός (hierogluphikós), from ἱερογλυφέω (hierogluphéō, “to represent hieroglyphically”), from ἱερός (hierós, “sacred, holy”) + γλύφω (glúphō, “to carve, to engrave, to cut out”). By surface analysis, hiero- + glyphic.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of hieroglyphic?

"hieroglyphic" (noun) means a writing system of ancient Egypt, Minoans, Maya and other civilizations, using pictorial symbols to represent individual sounds, often as a rebus.

What are the different meanings of hieroglyphic?

"hieroglyphic" has 3 main meanings: 1. A writing system of ancient Egypt, Minoans, Maya and other civilizations, using pictorial symbols to represent individual sounds, often as a rebus; 2. Any symbol used in this system; a hieroglyph; 3. Undecipherable handwriting or secret symbol.