- 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) + glyphe "carving," from glyphein "to carve" (see glyph). 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.
- hieroglyphics (n.)
- 1580s, from Greek ta hieroglyphika "ancient Egyptian writing system;" see hieroglyphic + -ics.
- hieroglyph (n.)
- "a figure of a familiar object representing a word or sound," especially in the system of writing used on monuments, etc., in ancient Egypt, 1590s, a shortening of hieroglyphic (n.) "hieroglyphic character," from hieroglyphic (adj.). Greek hieroglyphos meant "a carver of hieroglyphics."
