View synonyms for cuneiform

cuneiform

[ kyoo-nee-uh-fawrm, kyoo-nee-uh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

having the form of a wedge; wedge-shaped.
composed of slim triangular or wedge-shaped elements, as the characters used in writing by the ancient Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and others.
written in cuneiform characters:
cuneiform inscription.
Anatomy. noting or pertaining to any of various wedge-shaped bones, as of the tarsus.

cuneiform

/ ˈkjuːnɪˌfɔːm /

Alsocuneal wedge-shaped
of, relating to, or denoting the wedge-shaped characters employed in the writing of several ancient languages of Mesopotamia and Persia, esp Sumerian, Babylonian, etc
of or relating to a tablet in which this script is employed
of or relating to any of the three tarsal bones

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin cune(us) “a wedge” + -i- + -form

C17: probably from Old French cunéiforme, from Latin cuneus wedge

The early inhabitants of Armenia, who have left us inscriptions in the cuneiform character, also belonged to it.

The history of cuneiform writing is especially instructive as regards the point under present discussion.

As M. mile Burnouf tells me, three dots in a row, in the Persian cuneiform inscriptions, denote royal majesty.

Burnouf, denote royal majesty in the Persian cuneiform inscriptions.

In regard to the history of these monarchies, much light has been obtained from the decipherment of the cuneiform inscriptions.

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