hieroglyph
/ˌhaɪɹəʊɡˈlɪf/high-roh-GLIF
/ˌhaɪɹoʊɡˈlɪf/high-roh-GLIF
Meaninga holy carving
Common meaning: a picture-symbol of ancient writing
- hierholy, set apart for the godsLiddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), p. 695 (approximate) · scan
- glyphto carveLiddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), p. 312 (approximate) · scan
‘holy, set apart for the gods’ + ‘to carve’ → hieroglyph
Journey through time
Neither part’s path through time is traced in our sources yet; each root is shown from its dictionary entry.
- hier — Greek ἱερός “holy, set apart for the gods” (dictionary form; path not traced)
- glyph — Greek γλύφω “to carve” (dictionary form; path not traced)
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Built on Greek ἱερός ‘holy, set apart for the gods’ + Greek γλύφω ‘to carve’.
Did you know: our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), entry γλύφω, p. 312 · dictionary scan
Roots
Related words
Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app