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hieroglyphic (adj.)
1580s, "of the nature of Egyptian monumental writing," from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos "hieroglyphic; of Egyptian writing," from hieros "sacred" (see ire) + glyphē "carving," from glyphein "to carve" (from PIE root *gleubh- "to tear apart, cleave").
Plutarch began the custom of using the adjective (ta hieroglyphika) as a noun in reference to the Egyptian way of writing. The noun use of hieroglyphic in English dates to 1580s (hieroglyphics). Related: Hieroglyphical; hieroglyphically.
updated on May 11, 2020
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Dictionary entries near hieroglyphic
hierarchical
hierarchy
hieratic
hierocracy
hieroglyph
hieroglyphic
hieroglyphics
hierophant
hierophantic
hierophobia
hi-fi