Word Study
hierarchy |
hieratic |
hieratic script |
hieratical |
hierocracy |
hieroglyph
| hieroglyphic
| hieroglyphical
| hieroglyphically
| hieroglyphist
| hierogram
hieroglyph
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun hieroglyph has 2 senses
- hieroglyph(n = noun.communication) hieroglyphic - writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible); Array is a kind of writing
- hieroglyph(n = noun.communication) hieroglyphic - a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt; Array is a kind of orthography, writing system
Derived form adjective hieroglyphical1
has particulars: hieratic, hieratic script
Derived form adjective hieroglyphical2
CIDE DICTIONARY
- A sacred character; a character used in picture writing, as of the ancient Egyptians, Mexicans, etc. Specifically, in the plural, the picture writing of the ancient Egyptian priests. It is made up of three, or, as some say, four classes of characters: first, the hieroglyphic proper, or figurative, in which the representation of the object conveys the idea of the object itself; second, the ideographic, consisting of symbols representing ideas, not sounds, as an ostrich feather is a symbol of truth; third, the phonetic, consisting of symbols employed as syllables of a word, or as letters of the alphabet, having a certain sound, as a hawk represented the vowel
a. [1913 Webster] - Any character or figure which has, or is supposed to have, a hidden or mysterious significance; hence, any unintelligible or illegible character or mark.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
hieroglyph, n.
1 a a picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as used in ancient Egyptian and other writing. b a writing consisting of characters of this kind.
2 a secret or enigmatic symbol.
3 (in pl.) joc. writing difficult to read.
1 a a picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as used in ancient Egyptian and other writing. b a writing consisting of characters of this kind.
2 a secret or enigmatic symbol.
3 (in pl.) joc. writing difficult to read.
Etymology
back-form. f. HIEROGLYPHIC
For further exploring for "hieroglyph" in Webster Dictionary Online
