Hieroglyphic

From ArchaeoWiki

Hieroglyphic |hʌɪrəˌglɪfɪk| is the term commonly used to refer to a system of writing consisting of individual hieroglyphs arranged to represent sounds and meaning.

Within the Ancient Near East and Egypt, "hieroglyphic" most commonly refers to the elaborate system of Egyptian hieroglyphic, but may also refer to:

• Luwian hieroglyphic
• Cretan hieroglyphic
• occasionally, the Byblos Syllabary

The English term hieroglyphic first appeared in the late 16th century CE, adopted from French hiéroglyphique, derived in turn from Greek hierogluphikos (hieros ‘sacred’ + gluphē ‘carving’).