Hieroglyph

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhaɪɹəˌɡlɪf/

Origin

First attested around 1598, a back-formation from hieroglyphic, from Middle French hiéroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Ancient Greek ἱερογλυφικός, derivative of ἱερογλυφη (hieroglyphē, "hieroglyphs"), compound of ἱερός (hierós, "sacred, holy") and γλύφη (glyphē, "carved work"), a translation of Ancient Egyptian

R8-S43-Z3

mdw-nṯr (medu-netjer) "god's words".

Full definition of hieroglyph

Noun

1. An element of an ideographic (hieroglyphic) writing system.

Derived terms

• hieroglyphic