hieroglyphic

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)
  2. noun a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt
  3. adjective resembling hieroglyphic writing

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

hieroglyph

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