hi·er·o·glyph·ic

[hahy-er-uh-glif-ik, hahy-ruh-]
adjective
1.
Also, hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal. designating or pertaining to a pictographic script, particularly that of the ancient Egyptians, in which many of the symbols are conventionalized, recognizable pictures of the things represented.
2.
inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols.
3.
hard to decipher; hard to read.
noun
4.
Also, hi·er·o·glyph. a hieroglyphic symbol.
5.
Usually, hieroglyphics. hieroglyphic writing.
6.
a figure or symbol with a hidden meaning.
7.
hieroglyphics, handwriting, figures, characters, code, etc., difficult to decipher: the confusing hieroglyphics of advanced mathematics.
00:10
Hieroglyphic is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

Origin:
1575–85; < Late Latin hieroglyphicus < Greek hieroglyphikós pertaining to sacred writing. See hiero-, glyphic

hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To hieroglyphic
Collins
World English Dictionary
hieroglyphic (ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  of or relating to a form of writing using picture symbols, esp as used in ancient Egypt
2.  written with hieroglyphic symbols
3.  difficult to read or decipher
 
n
4.  a picture or symbol representing an object, concept, or sound
5.  a symbol or picture that is difficult to read or decipher
 
[C16: from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hierogluphikos, from hiero- + gluphē carving, from gluphein to carve]
 
hiero'glyphically
 
adv
 
hieroglyphist
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

hieroglyphic
1585, from L.L. hieroglyphicus, from Gk. hieroglyphikos, from hieros "sacred" + glyphe "carving," from glyphein "to carve." Plutarch began the custom of using the adj. (ta hieroglyphika) as a noun.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Pencil-sized tunnels caused by some type of burrowing animal caused a series of
  hieroglyphic appearing designs on the beach.
Sorry for this hieroglyphic post so much against my natural style.
He chose the name for the shell because of its hieroglyphic markings.
If the trademark consisting of letters, words belonging to hieroglyphic
  languages, such words and letters shall be transliterated.
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