hieroglyphic

== English == === Alternative forms === hieroglyphick (obsolete) === 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. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˌhaɪɹəˈɡlɪfɪk/ Rhymes: -ɪfɪk === Noun === hieroglyphic (plural hieroglyphics) (chiefly in the plural) 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. (by extension) Undecipherable handwriting or secret symbol. ==== Usage notes ==== The use of this word in the plural, as well as its use to mean ‘a hieroglyph’, are commonly proscribed by Egyptologists; for example, James P. Allen writes, ‘Each sign in this system is a hieroglyph, and the system as a whole is called hieroglyphic (not “hieroglyphics”).’ Thus, while the use of ‘hieroglyphics’ is quite common in works written by laymen (and formerly in 19th-century academic works), it is rare in modern academic works written by Egyptologists. ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === hieroglyphic (comparative more hieroglyphic, superlative most hieroglyphic) Of, relating to, or written with such a system of symbols. hieroglyphic writing hieroglyphic obelisk Difficult to decipher. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ====