| 释义 |
▪ I. hieroglyph, n.|ˈhaɪərəʊglɪf|
Also 6 gieroglife.
[Back-formation from hieroglyphic: cf. F. hiéroglyphe (1576 in Hatz.-Darm.). The Gr. ἱερογλύϕος meant ‘a carver of hieroglyphics’: cf. sense 3. With the gi- form, cf. F. gierogliphique (Cotgr.) and It., and see hierarchy.]
1. A hieroglyphic character; a figure of some object, as a tree, animal, etc., standing for a word (or, afterwards, in some cases, a syllable or sound), and forming an element of a species of writing found on ancient Egyptian monuments and records; thence extended to such figures similarly used in the writing of other races. Also, a writing consisting of characters of this kind.
1598Florio, Geroglifico, a gieroglife, mysticall or enigmaticall letters or cyfers vsed among the Egyptians. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. I. 375 The swan..was certainly the hieroglyph of the country. 1831Fraser's Mag. III. 12 These Hieroglyphs are a true Sacred Writing. 1859Gullick & Timbs Paint. 35 The hieroglyphs were generally coloured on the great monuments. 1876Birch Egypt 9 The hieroglyphs in the name of Ptolemy were fuller forms of the demotic signs used in the same name.
b. attrib. Inscribed with hieroglyphs.
1853J. Cumming Scripture Read. Gen. xli. 358 From hieroglyph monuments of Egypt.
2. transf. and fig. A figure, device, or sign having some hidden meaning; a secret or enigmatical symbol; an emblem.
1646Buck Rich. III, 115 (R.) A quaint device sent unto her in a rich jewel, fashioned much after the manner of the trivial hieroglyphs, used in France, called Rebus de Picardy. 1798W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. VI. 552 Secret symbols and hieroglyphs, which described the concealed doctrines. 1871Swinburne Songs bef. Sunrise, Pilgrims 27 For on your brows is written a mortal sentence, An hieroglyph of sorrow, a fiery sign. 1876G. F. Chambers Astron. 890 One of the signs or hieroglyphs in the centre of the Table.
b. humorously. A piece of writing difficult to decipher.
1875L. Morris Frederic vi. in Songs Two W. Ser. iii. (1878) 419 His writing Was so clear, and skilful, and fine, That I set him the task to decipher The hieroglyphs which are mine.
3. One who makes hieroglyphic inscriptions. rare.
1863J. G. Murphy Comm. Gen. xli. 8 The hieroglyphs, who belonged to the priestly caste, and whose primary business was to make hieroglyphic and other inscriptions.
▪ II. ˈhieroglyph, v.
[f. as prec.]
trans. To represent by a hieroglyph; to write in hieroglyphs.
1622Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. i. 138 And therefore the Egyptians, when they would Hierogliffe a King, and by some mysticall Cyphers expresse his vigilancie, they did put a Scepter in his hand, with an eye on the top of it. 1867De Morgan in Athenæum 20 July 71/1 The bricks are indeed alive, and the evidence is hieroglyphed upon them: but how are we to read it? |