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Hieroglyphic

//ˌhaɪɹəˈɡlɪfɪk// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective

1
Of, relating to, or written with such a system of symbols.
"hieroglyphic writing"
2
Difficult to decipher.

Adjective

1
written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols wordnet
2
resembling hieroglyphic writing wordnet

Noun

1
A writing system of ancient Egypt, Minoans, Maya and other civilizations, using pictorial symbols to represent individual sounds, often as a rebus. in-plural
2
a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt wordnet
3
Any symbol used in this system; a hieroglyph.
"I must say, that, at the coronation, there was little vestige left as possible "of the charms that pleased a king." "She looked," Lady Mary Wortley said, "like an Egyptian mummy, wrought with hieroglyphics of gold.""
4
writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible) wordnet
5
Undecipherable handwriting or secret symbol. broadly
"Above all, the 48-page timetables of the new service, which have been distributed free at every station in the scheme, are a model to the rest of B.R. For the first time on British Railways, so far as we are aware, a substantial timetable has been produced, not only without a single footnote but also devoid of all wearisome asterisks, stars, letter suffixes and other hieroglyphics."

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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