hieroglyph
noun/ˈhaɪərəɡlɪf/
/ˈhaɪərəɡlɪf/
- a picture or symbol of an object, representing a word, syllable or sound, especially as used in ancient Egyptian and other writing systems
- The meanings of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs were unknown until the 19th century.
Word Originlate 16th cent.: back-formation from hieroglyphic, from French hiéroglyphique, from Greek hierogluphikos, from hieros ‘sacred’ + gluphē ‘carving’.
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hieroglyph