# hieroglyph

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhaɪ.ɹəˌɡlɪf/ · frequency rank #97,110

## Definitions
1. An element (individual sign or glyph) of a hieroglyphic writing system.
2. An element (individual sign or glyph) of a hieroglyphic writing system.
3. Any obscure or baffling symbol.

## Etymology
First attested around 1598, a back-formation from hieroglyphic (1580s), from Middle French hiéroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Ancient Greek ἱερογλυφικός (hierogluphikós) (Plutarch τά ἱερογλυφικά [γράμματα] "hieroglyphic [writing]), ἱερόγλυφος (hierógluphos, “carver of hieroglyphs”) (Ptolemy), a compound of ἱερός (hierós, “sacred, holy”) and γλυφή (gluphḗ, “carved work”), a calque of Egyptian mdw-nṯr (“the god’s word”), nTr-md. By surface analysis, hiero- + glyph.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hieroglyph