hier‧o‧glyph‧ics /ˌhaɪrəˈɡlɪfɪks/
noun [plural, uncountable][
Date: 1500-1600;
Language: French;
Origin: hiéroglyphique, from Late Latin, from Greek, from hieros ( ⇒ hierarchy) + glyphein 'to cut marks in a surface']
pictures and symbols used to represent words or parts of words, especially in the ancient Egyptian writing system
—hieroglyphic adjective:
hieroglyphic script [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲