I. | ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷|glifik, -fēk adjective
or hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal -fə̇kəl, -fēk-
Etymology: hieroglyphic from Middle French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos, from hier- + glyphikos of carving; hieroglyphical from Middle French hieroglyphique + English -al — more at glyphic
1.
a. : written in, constituting, or belonging to that form of ancient Egyptian writing in which the characters are for the most part recognizable pictures of objects — compare demotic , hieratic
b. : written in, constituting, or belonging to any system of writing in which the characters are to a substantial degree recognizable pictures
finest of the three surviving Maya hieroglyphic books — J.E.S.Thompson
2. : inscribed with hieroglyphic characters
hieroglyphic obelisk
3. : resembling hieroglyphic in form
coleus mosaic — causing … hieroglyphic markings on leaves — Experiment Station Record
symbolism
hieroglyphic emblem
or illegibility
the most hieroglyphic of prescriptions — H.V.Morton
hieroglyphical entries in thick, half-obliterated pencil — Bram Stoker
• hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal·ly -fə̇k(ə) lē, -fēk-, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
1. : hieroglyph 1
2. : a system of hieroglyphic writing
a German philologist … started the decipherment of Hittite hieroglyphic — C.J.Rolo
specifically : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood
the elaborate hieroglyphic … was too slow and laborious a method of writing for the needs of everyday business — J.H.Breasted
— often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
3. : something that resembles a hieroglyphic in form, symbolic content, or difficulty of decipherment
the frightening hieroglyphics of … shorthand — advt
the traditional hieroglyphic that was said to identify for tramps the houses where meals were certain — Ben Riker
the hieroglyphic -covered blackboard — Philip Hamburger
[s]hierogly.jpg[/s] [
hieroglyphic 2
]
III. transitive verb
Etymology: hieroglyphic (II)
obsolete : hieroglyph