▪ I. hieroglyphic, a. and n.
(haɪərəʊˈglɪfɪk)
Also 6–7 hy-, -gli-, -f-, -i(c)que, -ik(e, -ick; 7 gie-.
[ad. F. hiéroglyphique (1529 in Hatz.-Darm.) or late L. hieroglyphicus, a. Gr. ἱερογλυϕικός, f. ἱερός sacred + γλυϕή carving (cf. γλυϕικός). The adj. was used subst. by Plutarch, τὰ ἱερογλυϕικά (sc. γράµµατα) letters, writing, whence hieroglyphics.]
A. adj.
1. Of the nature of an Egyptian or similar hieroglyph (sense 1); written in or consisting of hieroglyphics.
| 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xvi. 50 A fair obelisquie..50 cubits high beset with letters Hieroglificque. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. ii. §11 Translated into Hieroglyphick Characters. 1726 De Foe Hist. Devil ii. vi. (1840) 248 In the old writings of the Egyptians, I mean their hieroglyphic writing. 1857 Max Müller Chips (1880) I. x. 261 The Chinese..was in its origin a hieroglyphic system. 1879 Lubbock Addr. Pol. & Educ. x. 186 The Rosetta stone..containing an inscription in three characters, hieroglyphic, enchorial, and Greek. |
2. transf. and fig. Of the nature of a hieroglyph (sense 2); having a hidden meaning; symbolical, emblematic.
| 1647 Cowley Mistr., Soul iii, So that all fair Species be Hieroglyphick marks of Thee. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Hieroglyphick Marks (in Palmestry), those winding Lines and Wrinkles in the Hand, by which the Professours of that vain Science pretend to foretell strange Things. 1878 C. Stanford Symb. Christ vii. 175 It locked in hieroglyphic language the truth. |
3. Containing or inscribed with hieroglyphs.
| 1663 Cowley Verses Sev. Occas., Complaint i, A wondrous Hieroglyphick Robe she wore. 1675 Coles (title) Nolens Volens..together with the Youths' Hieroglyphick Bible. |
4. humorously. Difficult to decipher.
| 1856 Olmstead Slave States 1 A hieroglyphic scrawl. |
B. n.
1. orig. in pl. = Gr. τὰ ἱερογλυϕικά. The characters or mode of writing used by the ancient Egyptians (or by transference, other peoples), consisting of figures of objects directly or figuratively representing words (picture-writing), or, in certain circumstances, syllables or letters. The sing. is rarely used: see hieroglyph.
| 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 149 The same that the auncient Hieroglyphiques weare with the ægiptians. 1611 Cotgr., Gierogliphique, gierogliphicall; of, or belonging to, Gierogliphickes. 1613 Purchas Pilgramage (1614) 811 The Indians of..Mexico, shewed unto a Jesuit their Bookes..which in figures and Hieroglyphickes represented things after their manner. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 338 They [Chinese] use not letters but Characters, or Hyerogliphicks, of which they have above 40000. 1712 W. Rogers Voy. 319 The antient Mexicans..in those pretended Histories, preserv'd by fanciful Hieroglyphicks. 1758 J. Kennedy Curios. Wilton. Ho. 47 The Statue of Isis..There are a great Multitude of Hieroglyphicks quite round the Bottom. 1845 Maurice Mor. & Met. Philos. in Encycl. Metrop. II. 558/1 The invention of a system of hieroglyphics. 1851 Layard Pop. Acc. Discov. Nineveh x. 246 Between the figures is a cartouche, containing a name in hieroglyphics. |
2. a. A picture standing for a word or notion, esp. one symbolizing something which it does not directly figure (like many of the Egyptian hieroglyphs); hence, a figure, device, or sign, having some hidden meaning; a secret or enigmatical symbol, an emblem; a hieroglyph.
| 1596 H. Clapham Briefe Bible i. 19 Commending onely vnto them Hierogliphiks, or holy preaching signes. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets drie Dinner E, Palme..an Hieroglyphick or Embleme of victory and conquest. 1634 Peacham Gentl. Exerc. ii. i. 107 Flax was the Hieroglyphicke of Fate among the Aegyptians. 1638 Quarles (title) Hieroglyphikes of the Life of Man. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 45 A silken string circles both their bodies as the Hyerogliphic or bond of Wedlock. 1688 J. Ogilvy tr. Magaillan's Hist. China 70 It is the nature of Hieroglyphicks not to be the natural figures of the things which they signifie, but only to represent them. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 34 ¶6 Water is the proper hieroglyphick of easy prattle. a 1806 Horsley Serm. (1811) 134 The Levitical rites were nothing less than the gospel itself in hieroglyphics. 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. (1861) 262 He was the first to imprint New-year cakes with the mysterious hieroglyphics of the Cock and Breeches. 1891 Wilson in Colleges Oxford 245 The grotesque figures or ‘hieroglyphics’ in the Cloister Quadrangle [Magd. Coll.] were painted..in honour of his coming. |
b. pl. humorously. Characters or writing difficult to make out. Cf. hieroglyph n. 2 b.
| a 1734 North Lives I. 365 Petitions signed with numberless hands and frightful hieroglyphics. 1853 Mrs. Gaskell Cranford xv. 296 About a year after Miss Matty set up shop, I received one of Martha's hieroglyphics, begging me to come to Cranford very soon. 1862 Sat. Rev. 8 Feb. 155 Inability to decipher the hieroglyphics of Bradshaw. 1874 L. Stephen Hours in Library (1892) I. ii. 64 Some ladies..cross their writing till the page becomes a chequer-work of unintelligible hieroglyphics. |
▪ II. † hieroˈglyphic, v. Obs.
[f. prec.]
1. trans. To represent by, or as by, a hieroglyphic; to symbolize.
| 1615 T. Adams Blacke Devill 36 Perhaps he meanes to hieroglyphicke unto us what wondrous engines silver tooles are in Rome. 1650 T. Bayly Herba Parietis 15 By Cupid..was hieroglyphict the love that was between her and her husband. 1653 E. Chisenhale Cath. Hist. 125 It was made like a Nut, and did thereby Hierogliphick its short continuance. 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. 282 As for Winefrid's Life being Hieroglyphick'd on the windows of Holywell Church. |
2. To interpret or express, as a hieroglyphic.
| 1615 E. Hoby Curry-combe iii. 112 He doth Hierogliphick my name of I. R. in English, Latin, and Hebrew, making mee in the one Lack Roague, in the other Iscarioth de Rubigine, and Ishmael Rabshacheh in the third. |