Etymology

First attested around 1598, a back-formation from hieroglyphic, from Middle French hiéroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Ancient Greek ἱερογλυφικός ‎(hierogluphikós), derivative of ἱερόγλυφος ‎(hierógluphos, “carver of hieroglyphs”), compound of ἱερός ‎(hierós, “sacred, holy”) and γλύφη ‎(glúphē, “carved work”), a translation of Egyptian 𓊹𓌃 ‎(mdw-nṯr, “the god's words”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaɪɹəˌɡlɪf/