hieroglyphic

¹hi·ero·glyph·ic

adj \ˌhī-(ə-)rə-ˈgli-fik\

Definition of HIEROGLYPHIC

1

: written in, constituting, or belonging to a system of writing mainly in pictorial characters

2

: inscribed with hieroglyphic

3

: resembling hieroglyphic in difficulty of decipherment

— hi·ero·glyph·i·cal·ly \-fi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Variants of HIEROGLYPHIC

hi·ero·glyph·ic also hi·ero·glyph·i·cal \-fi-kəl\

Origin of HIEROGLYPHIC

Middle French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos, from hieros + glyphein to carve — more at cleave

First Known Use: 1585

Other Language Terms

cognate, collocation, homonym

Rhymes with HIEROGLYPHIC

anaglyphic, beatific, calorific, colorific, felicific, frigorific, honorific, scientific, soporific, South Pacific, sudorific, tenebrific