hieroglyphical, a.
(haɪərəʊˈglɪfɪkəl)
[f. as prec. + -al1.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of hieroglyphics; like the Egyptian picture-writing.
| 1605 J. Dove Confut. Atheism 50 These letters were but Hyeroglyphicall, like to the letters of the Egiptians, not Abcdarye letters, but shapes and Images of beastes. 1611 Gierogliphicall [see hieroglyphic B. 1]. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 55 Obeliskes with hierogliphicall inscriptions, carried from Hieropolis..to Rome. 1748 Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 307 Hieroglyphical Writing in all its Varieties. 1836 Macgillivray tr. Humboldt's Trav. xxiv. 360 The Aztec manuscripts or hieroglyphical pictures preserved in the house of the viceroys. |
b. Relating to, or dealing with, hieroglyphics.
| 1811 Lamb Guy Faux Misc. Wks. (1871) 372 By the most hieroglyphical Egyptian. 1862 Sat. Rev. 8 Feb. 165 The hieroglyphical readings of Champollion and his successors. |
2. Symbolical, emblematic; = hieroglyphic a. 2.
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxix. (1887) 188 The nyne Muses..painted vpon the wall..would serue him for places of memorie, or for hieroglyphicall partitions. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World iii. v. §4 (R.) To this challenge the Scythian returned an hieroglyphical answer; sending a bird, a mouse, a frog, and five arrows. 1672 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 497 Gilding y⊇ diall..and y⊇ Hieroglyphical Triangle. 1689 Lond. Gaz. No. 2501/3 (Ld. Mayor's Shew) The Rich Adornments of the Pageants, and Hieroglyphical Representations. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 64 ¶1 A good Courtier's Habit and Behaviour is hieroglyphical on these Occasions. 1840 Hood Kilmansegg, First Step v, Cards like that hieroglyphical call To a geographical Fancy Ball On the recent [Mulready] Post Office covers. |
3. Difficult to decipher or make sense of; cf. hieroglyphic a. 4.
| 1613–16 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. v, My blubbring pen her sable teares lets fall, In characters right Hyrogliphicall. 1767 Miss Dewes in Mrs. Delany's Life & Corr. Ser. ii. (1862) I. 134 This was written in the dark, but you used to love hieroglyphical letters. 1851 Ruskin Stones Ven. (1874) I. xxi. 238 A particular method of handling..which has its effect at the intended distance, and is altogether hieroglyphical and unintelligible at any other. 1885 Law Times 11 Apr. 421/1 Notes often disjointed, sometimes hieroglyphical..as jotted down at the hearing. |