hieroglyphic
hieroglyphic Lexical Profile
hieroglyphic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Of, relating to, or written in hieroglyphs, especially the pictorial script of ancient Egypt.
"Archaeologists spent decades deciphering the hieroglyphic inscriptions carved into the stone temple walls."
Difficult to read, decipher, or understand; cryptic or illegible.
"The doctor's cramped, hieroglyphic handwriting left the pharmacist completely baffled."
• noun
A stylized picture or symbol representing a word, syllable, or sound, as used in ancient Egyptian and certain other writing systems (usually used in the plural).
"The museum exhibit featured a well-preserved papyrus scroll covered in colorful Egyptian hieroglyphics."
Incomprehensible symbols or illegible handwriting (usually used in the plural).
"I tried to borrow his lecture notes, but the pages were filled with indecipherable hieroglyphics."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict Egyptological and academic usage, 'hieroglyph' is preferred for the noun (an individual character) and 'hieroglyphic' is reserved for the adjective, though 'hieroglyphic' (usually pluralized as 'hieroglyphics') is widely accepted as a noun in general English.
• Rhymes for hieroglyphic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century via French and Late Latin from Ancient Greek 'hieroglyphikos' ('of sacred carving'), combining 'hieros' ('sacred') and 'glyphein' ('to carve'), because Egyptian inscriptions were primarily carved on temple walls.