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Hieroglyph

//ˈhaɪ.ɹəˌɡlɪf// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An element (individual sign or glyph) of a hieroglyphic writing system.

    "Hieroglyphs were discovered on the wall inside the temple."

  2. 2
    a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt wordnet
  3. 3
    An element (individual sign or glyph) of a hieroglyphic writing system.; In particular, an Egyptian hieroglyph.
  4. 4
    writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible) wordnet
  5. 5
    Any obscure or baffling symbol. informal

    "With your handwriting, it's no surprise the Prof can't read your hieroglyphs!"

Verb
  1. 1
    To represent by hieroglyphs. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

First attested around 1598, a back-formation from hieroglyphic (1580s), from Middle French hiéroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Ancient Greek ἱερογλυφικός (hierogluphikós) (Plutarch τά ἱερογλυφικά [γράμματα] "hieroglyphic [writing]), ἱερόγλυφος (hierógluphos, “carver of hieroglyphs”) (Ptolemy), a compound of ἱερός (hierós, “sacred, holy”) and γλυφή (gluphḗ, “carved work”), a calque of Egyptian mdw-nṯr (“the god’s word”), nTr-md. By surface analysis, hiero- + glyph.

Etymology 2

First attested around 1598, a back-formation from hieroglyphic (1580s), from Middle French hiéroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Ancient Greek ἱερογλυφικός (hierogluphikós) (Plutarch τά ἱερογλυφικά [γράμματα] "hieroglyphic [writing]), ἱερόγλυφος (hierógluphos, “carver of hieroglyphs”) (Ptolemy), a compound of ἱερός (hierós, “sacred, holy”) and γλυφή (gluphḗ, “carved work”), a calque of Egyptian mdw-nṯr (“the god’s word”), nTr-md. By surface analysis, hiero- + glyph.

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