| 释义 |
hi·er·o·glyph·ic
I. \| ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷|glifik, -fēk\ adjective
or hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal \-fə̇kəl, -fēk-\
Etymology: hieroglyphic from Middle French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos, from hier- + glyphikos of carving; hieroglyphical from Middle French hieroglyphique + English -al — more at glyphic
1.
a. : written in, constituting, or belonging to that form of ancient Egyptian writing in which the characters are for the most part recognizable pictures of objects — compare demotic, hieratic
b. : written in, constituting, or belonging to any system of writing in which the characters are to a substantial degree recognizable pictures
< finest of the three surviving Maya hieroglyphic books — J.E.S.Thompson >
2. : inscribed with hieroglyphic characters
< hieroglyphic obelisk >
3. : resembling hieroglyphic in form
< coleus mosaic — causing … hieroglyphic markings on leaves — Experiment Station Record >
symbolism
< hieroglyphic emblem >
or illegibility
< the most hieroglyphic of prescriptions — H.V.Morton >
< hieroglyphical entries in thick, half-obliterated pencil — Bram Stoker >
• hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal·ly \-fə̇k(ə) lē, -fēk-, -li\ adverb
II. noun
(-s)
1. : hieroglyph 1
2. : a system of hieroglyphic writing
< a German philologist … started the decipherment of Hittite hieroglyphic — C.J.Rolo >
specifically : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood
< the elaborate hieroglyphic … was too slow and laborious a method of writing for the needs of everyday business — J.H.Breasted >
— often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
3. : something that resembles a hieroglyphic in form, symbolic content, or difficulty of decipherment
< the frightening hieroglyphics of … shorthand — advt >
< the traditional hieroglyphic that was said to identify for tramps the houses where meals were certain — Ben Riker >
< the hieroglyphic-covered blackboard — Philip Hamburger >
 [hieroglyphic 2]
III. transitive verb
Etymology: hieroglyphic (II)
obsolete : hieroglyph |