hieroglyph

n.

1. A picture or symbol used in hieroglyphic writing.
2. Something that suggests a hieroglyph.

For more information on hieroglyph, visit Britannica.com.

A figure representing (a) an idea, and intended to convey a meaning, (b) a word or root of a word, or (c) a sound which is part of a word; esp. applied to the engraved marks and symbols found on the monuments of ancient Egypt.

---

This term, normally applied to ancient Egyptian picture writing, is also used for the symbolic illustrations in astrological almanacs and for symbols produced by automatic and direct writing through mediumship. Direct writing (i.e., messages produced without contact between mediums and writing materials), although sometimes produced at séances, has also occurred during outbreaks of poltergeist phenomena, when the poltergeist distributes messages throughout a house. For example, in a disturbance in the house of Eliakim Phelps, in Stratford, Connecticut (1850-51), hieroglyphs were found on the walls and ceilings. The matter was investigated by Spiritualist medium Andrew Jackson Davis, who claimed to recognize the hieroglyphs as spiritual symbols. He interpreted them as friendly messages from spiritual powers.

Sources:

Capron, E. W. Modern Spiritualism: Its Facts and Fanaticisms. Boston: B. Marsh; New York: Patridge and Brittan, 1855.

IN BRIEF: A character in a system that employs recognizable pictures of objects.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Common misspelling(s) of hieroglyph

• hieroglph

Dansk (Danish)
n. - hieroglyf

Nederlands (Dutch)
hiëroglief, symbolenschrift, raadselachtig teken

Français (French)
n. - hiéroglyphe

Deutsch (German)
n. - Hieroglyphe

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - ιερογλυφικό

Italiano (Italian)
geroglifico

Português (Portuguese)
n. - hieroglifo (m)

Русский (Russian)
иероглиф

Español (Spanish)
n. - jeroglífico

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - hieroglyf

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
象形文字, 秘密文字, 图画文字

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 象形文字, 秘密文字, 圖畫文字

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 상형문자, 비밀문자, 알아보기 어려운 글씨

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 象形文字

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) حرف هيروغليفي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮הירוגליף, כתב-חרטומים, כתב לא-ברור, ציור המייצג מילה, הברה, או צליל בכתב החרטומים המצרי, פשר לא-ידוע של סמל‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.